Pregnant Women with Bronchial Asthma Benefit from Progressive Muscle Relaxation: A Randomized, Prospective, Controlled Trial
- 1 June 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
- Vol. 75 (4), 237-243
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000092894
Abstract
Background: Asthma is a serious medical problem in pregnancy and is often associated with stress, anger and poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on change in blood pressure, lung parameters, heart rate, anger and health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Methods: We treated a sample of 64 pregnant women with bronchial asthma from the local population in an 8-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Thirty-two were selected for PMR, and 32 received a placebo intervention. The systolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume in the first second, peak expiratory flow and heart rate were tested, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Health Survey (SF-36) were employed. Results: According to the intend-to-treat principle, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a significant increase in both forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow were observed after PMR. The heart rate showed a significant increase in the coefficient of variation, root mean square of successive differences and high frequency ranges, in addition to a significant reduction in low and middle frequency ranges. A significant reduction on three of five State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales, and a significant increase on seven of eight SF-36 scales were observed. Conclusions: PMR appears to be an effective method to improve blood pressure, lung parameters and heart rate, and to decrease anger levels, thus enhancing health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.Keywords
This publication has 37 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of Self-Hypnosis on Hay Fever Symptoms – A Randomised Controlled Intervention StudyPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2005
- Anger and acne: implications for quality of life, patient satisfaction and clinical careBritish Journal of Dermatology, 2004
- Reintroduction of Antidepressant Therapy across Pregnancy in Women Who Previously Discontinued TreatmentPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2004
- Konzept der Klinik fur Psychosomatik in Bad AusseeWiener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 2002
- Efficacy of ‘Functional Relaxation’ in Comparison to Terbutaline and a ‘Placebo Relaxation’ Method in Patients with Acute AsthmaPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2001
- The role of acute and chronic stress in asthma attacks in childrenThe Lancet, 2000
- Power Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in PsychiatryPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1999
- Salbutamol inhalation has no effect on myocardial ischaemia, arrhythmias and heart‐rate variability in patients with coronary artery disease plus asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseJournal of Internal Medicine, 1998
- Anger, Impulsivity and Suicide RiskPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1997
- Perception of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: The Role of Alexithymia and AnxietyPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1995