The Effect of Neutral Bath in Alleviating Stress Due to Group Psychotherapy

<p>A preliminary study showed that the experience of group psychotherapy produced a mean elevation in systolic blood pressure of 4.4 mm. of mercury, and diastolic blood pressure of 3.3 mm. of mercury, and a mean decrease of pulse of 3.0. An experimental study was done by comparing the effectiveness of three procedures; neutral bath, bedrest, and ward activities in lowering blood pressure and pulse after group psychotherapy. Studies had been done to determine stress due to emotional stimuli and its effect upon the physiological and psychological reactions of the body, but there were no actual experimental studies found dealing with the measurement of blood pressure and pulse following group psychotherapy as an indication of Sixty-stress. three patients from 17 to 55 years of age. and free from any known medical disease were randomly selected. The mean systolic reductions were: neutral bath 14 mm., bedrest 6 mm., and ward activities increased 1 mm. of mercury. The difference between the neutral bath and bedrest was statistically significant at the .025 level. The mean diastolic reductions were: neutral bath 7 mm., bedrest .5 mm., and ward activities increased 3 mm. of mercury. The difference between the neutral bath and bedrest was statistically significant at the .005 level. The mean pulse reductions were: neutral bath 5, bedrest 2, and ward activities .9 beats per minute. The difference between the neutral bath and bedrest was statistically significant at the .005 level. The cardiovascular changes in this study were used as an index of stress.</p> <p>We conclude under the conditions of this study that the experience of group psychotherapy is stressful as reflected by cardiovascular change, and that the neutral bath is more successful in reducing this blood pressure and pulse than is either bedrest or ward activities. The results suggest that further research in this area is indicated.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year

1970

Authors dc:creator

• Walek, Olga L.
• Lee, Arlene M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Betty T. Lonnstrom
• Wynelle J. Huff
• Bernell E. Baldwin

• Nursing
• Baths Stress; Psychological Psychotherapy; Group

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/981

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2063