Effects of Education and Relaxation Training with Essential Hypertension Patients,

Thirty subjects with essential hypertension were randomly assigned to either a control, education, or education with relaxation training group. Independent blood pressure recordings were collected by medical staff a pretest, and 8-week follow-up. Results suggested a significant interaction between treatment and time for the dependent physiological measure, systolic blood pressure. During the pretest to follow-up period, the control group averaged a 5.9 mm. Hg. increase, the education with relaxation group an 8.8 mm. Hg. decrease, and the education group a 14.9 mm. Hg. decrease in systolic blood pressure. There was no significant difference in group means for diastolic blood pressure within groups over time. As measured at follow-up, education appeared more effective in reducing systolic blood pressure than education with relaxation training. More than 13 of subjects associated unpleasant side effects with their antihypertensive medication. Almost all treatment subjects rated both the education and relaxation as helpful for understanding and managing their hypertension.