A study at the University of Milan with white collar workers being downsized shows that a simple stress reduction program could be implemented at the worksite, with possible preventive advantages for hypertension.

Researchers from the University of Milan compared 91 white-collar workers, enrolled at a time of work downsizing (hence, in a stress condition), with 79 healthy control subjects, for signs of altered nervous system or arterial pressure, and to test whether a simple, onsite stress management program, based on cognitive restructuring and relaxation training, could reduce the level of stress symptoms, revert stress-related autonomic nervous system dysregulation, and lower arterial pressure. This was compared to a sham program condition.

A five week training in the Relaxation Response at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center significantly improved performance on a simple attention task but did not effect complex attention, verbal, or visual declarative memory tests.

Researchers at the Mind/Body Medical Institute of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, looked at the efficacy of the Relaxation Response (RR) in helping to decrease anxiety and accompanying salivary cortisol levels, as well as improve memory and attention span in healthy older adults.

When researchers at Stockholm University in Sweden compared a stress management program based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles with a Kundalini yoga program, they found that both methods delivered excellent results.

Researchers at Stockholm University in Sweden compared a stress management program based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles with a Kundalini yoga program. A study sample of 26 women and 7 men from a large Swedish company were divided randomly into 2 groups for each of the different forms of intervention; a total of 4 groups. The groups were instructed by trained group leaders and 10 sessions were held with each of groups, over a period of 4 months. Psychological (self-rated stress and stress behaviour, anger, exhaustion, quality of life) and physiological (blood pressure, heart rate, urinary catecholamines, salivary cortisol) measurements obtained before and after treatment showed significant improvements on most of the variables in both groups as well as medium-to-high effect sizes. However, no significant difference was found between the 2 programs. The results indicate that both cognitive behaviour therapy and yoga are promising stress management techniques.

Citation: Granath J, Ingvarsson S, von Thiele U, Lundberg U. Stress management: a randomized study of cognitive behavioural therapy and yoga. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 2006;35 (1): pages 3-10.

Researchers from the Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK, conducted a study with 209 pupils to see if a stress management training program could improve their academic performance. The students were randomly assigned to either a cognitive behaviorally based stress management intervention (SMI) group, or a non-intervention control group.

Researchers at the University of Zurich examined the longterm effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) training on the cortisol stress responses in healthy men and women.

A randomized, controlled, clinical trial out of the University of Zurich examined the longterm effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) training on the cortisol stress responses in healthy men and women. (Extended stress with its continuous, exaggerated secretion of cortisol has been found to have negative effects on health and cognitive functioning.)

Nurses from San Diego State University research the efficacy and feasibility of teaching mantra repetition to veterans in order to impact stress, anxiety, anger, quality of life, and spiritual well-being.

Researchers from San Diego State University looked at the efficacy of repeating a mantra for reducing stress and stress-related symptoms. The authors tested the feasibility and efficacy of a 5-week (90-min per week) intervention on mantram repetition in a sample of ambulatory veterans.

Researchers at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Canada studied the effects on early stage breast and prostate cancer patients of a mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation program, on quality of life, mood states.

Researchers at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Canada studied the effects on early stage breast and prostate cancer patients of a mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation program, investigating its impact on quality of life, mood states, stress symptoms, and levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) and melatonin.

A study out of Xinjiang Medical University in China shows that occupational stress increases blood sugar in a group of female oil field workers, but not cholesterol.

Researchers from the Department of Occupational Health at Xinjiang Medical University in China studied the effects of occupational stress on immunological function, glucose, and blood lipid levels of female workers.

Occupational role, personal strain, and personal abilities were assessed in 900 female workers working in an oil-field setting (the observation group) and in 220 female workers in other occupational settings (controls).