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 Researchers from the  Technische Universität München in Munich, Germany investigated the efficacy of a brief relaxation technique consisting of functional relaxation (FR) and guided imagery (GI) in adult asthmatics in a randomized controlled trial.
Sixty-four patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma (externally caused, usually from inhaled allergens) were treated over a 4-week period and assessed at baseline, after treatment, and after 4 months, for follow-up.
Sixteen patients completed the functional relaxation,
fourteen the guided imagery, and fifteen a combination of both.
Thirteen received a placebo relaxation technique as the control
intervention (CI). Primary outcome measures were forced expiratory
volume in the first second [FEV(1)] as well as specific airway
resistance [sR(aw)].
Participation in functional relaxation,
guided imagery and both combined all led to significant increases in
forced expiratory volume as compared to the controls at the end of the
therapy*.
After follow-up, the increases were best maintained
in the Functional Relaxation group, but all groups were significantly
stronger than controls.** Improvements in airway resistance were in
keeping with the changes in forced expiratory volume in all groups.
The
study confirms a positive effect of relaxation and imagery on
respiratory parameters and suggests a clinically relevant long-term
benefit as a non-pharmacological adjunctive therapy option.
*FEV(1) (% predicted) of 7.6 +/- 13.2, 3.3 +/- 9.8, and 8.3 +/- 21.0, respectively, as compared to -1.8 +/- 11.1
**
FEV(1) were 6.9 +/- 10.3 in the FR group, 4.4 +/- 7.3 in the GI and 4.5
+/- 8.1 in the FR/GI, compared to -2.8 +/- 9.2 in the CI.
Citation: Lahmann C, Nickel M, Schuster T, Sauer N, Ronel J, Noll-Hussong M, Tritt K, Nowak D, Röhricht F, Loew T. Functional
Relaxation and Guided Imagery as Complementary Therapy in Asthma: A
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Psychotherapy &
Psychosomatics. 2009 Apr 28;78(4):233-239. [Epub ahead of print]
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