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Stress Management Techniques: evidence-based procedures that reduce stress and promote health. Varvogli L, Darviri C.

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Abstract

Abstract Purpose: According to the World Health Organization, stress is a significant problem of our times and affects both physical as well as the mental health of people. Stress is defined as a situation where the organism‘s homeostasis is threatened or the organism perceives a situation as threatening. Stress coping methods are the cognitive, behavioral and psychological efforts to deal with stress. Method: After a thorough literature review in major databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct) the following techniques were identified and are presented and briefly discussed here: progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, relaxation response, biofeedback, emotional freedom technique, guided imagery, diaphragmatic breathing, transcendental meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction and emotional freedom technique. Conclusion: These are all evidence-based techniques, easy to learn and practice, with good results in individuals with good health or with a disease.

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... Diaphragmatic breathing is particularly effective in reducing anxiety, perception and symptoms, and pursedlip breathing controls the respiratory rate and depth, resulting in relaxation and a reduction in feelings of panic [16,17]. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises provide maximum benefit to individuals, and can be used as an effective relaxation technique if they are applied together with pursed lip respiration [17][18][19]. ...
... After inhalation through the nose and moving the air to the abdomen, the breath is held for two or three seconds, then exhaled slowly and deliberately through the lips, which are contracting as if blowing out a candle. Pursed-lip breathing is a technique designed to provide control over the time and volume of breathing [17][18][19]. ...
... Diaphragmatic breathing exercises provide a decrease in blood pressure and pulse rate by stimulating the parasympathetic system, and have been reported to lower stress levels and have a sedative effect on the individual [18]. Pursed-lips breathing provides relaxation, helping to control dyspnea and feelings of panic, through the control of the rate and depth of respiration [17]. ...
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BACKGROUND and OBJECTIVE: Caring for a child with a disability affects musculoskeletal system pain, fatigue, sleep quality, and anxiety of the mothers. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of breathing exercises in mothers with chronic non-specific low back pain (NLBP). METHODS: Forty-three mothers with chronic NLBP were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 23) and the control group (n = 20). The experimental group received breathing exercises with core stabilization exercises (BSET) for three sessions a week for 8 weeks, and the control group performed stabilization exercises (SET) only, for the same period. Pain severity, fatigue, anxiety, and sleep quality were evaluated before and after the treatment programs. RESULTS: After the treatment programs, significant differences were observed in pain, fatigue, and sleep quality in both groups (p < 0.05). However, the BSET group showed a significantly better improvement in anxiety levels and sleep quality than the SET group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The improvements in pain, fatigue and sleep quality were seen in both groups after treatment programs. It is recommended breathing exercises are added to core stabilization programs to provide greater improvements in anxiety level and sleep quality for mothers of children with disabilities, who have NLBP.
... Although not used as frequently as physical or interpersonal strategies, participants who still regularly engage in contemplative and meditative SC strategies will see psychological benefits. 25 Meditation reduces ruminative thinking and trait anxiety, increases empathy, and increases self-compassion. 25 Deep breathing decreases stress with acute tasks. ...
... 25 Meditation reduces ruminative thinking and trait anxiety, increases empathy, and increases self-compassion. 25 Deep breathing decreases stress with acute tasks. 25 Though most workplace mindfulness programs have been based on standard mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, 26 organizations could provide employees with resources or training on a variety of contemplative or meditative strategies to promote use throughout the work day. ...
... 25 Deep breathing decreases stress with acute tasks. 25 Though most workplace mindfulness programs have been based on standard mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, 26 organizations could provide employees with resources or training on a variety of contemplative or meditative strategies to promote use throughout the work day. More importantly, employers and organizations can embrace a culture that provides time and physical space for SC strategies, showing employees that SC is a priority for the organization. ...
Article
Purpose: Strategies for reducing burnout and improving work-life balance have been recommended for both organizations and individual athletic trainers. Little is known about what types of self-care (SC) strategies are already being used by athletic trainers. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the number and type of SC strategies used by athletic trainers on a weekly basis. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design with web-based survey to explore the SC strategies used by athletic trainers. The survey instrument consisted of a SC checklist which asked the participants to select all the SC strategies they engage in weekly with 17 potential options, including an opportunity to describe intensity of exercise and also an “other” option with the ability to describe additional strategies. Results: Participants were mostly female, in their mid-career (age = 33 ± 9 y; experience = 10 ± 8 y), predominantly White, working in the college/university setting, holding a professional master’s degree. Participants engage in 6.9±2.8 SC strategies per week (range=1-15; mode=6). They most often engage in positive social relationships (n=522, 72.5%), humor (n=477, 66.3%), laughter (n=476, 66.1%), hydration (n=472, 65.6%), and moderate exercise (n=418, 58.1%). Participants most often selected physical (2.6±1.1; range=1- 4; mode=3, n=681, 94.6%), interpersonal (2.6±1.0; range=1-3; mode=3, n=665, 92.4%) or contemplative and meditative (2.1±1.3; range=1-5; mode=1, n=641, 89.0%) SC strategies to use on a weekly basis. Creative strategies were used the least frequently (1.0±0.2; mode=1, n=341, 47.4%). Only 25 (3.5%) participants indicated they engaged in no SC strategies weekly. There were no statistically or clinically significant differences between groups of gender identities or early and late career athletic trainers when compared to weekly use of contemplative and meditative, physical, interpersonal or creative SC strategies. Conclusions: Physical and interpersonal SC strategies are most popular among athletic trainers. Athletic trainers should continue to engage in SC strategies, as wellbeing positively impacts connections to the workplace. Organizations should implement workplace wellness and employee assistance programs that embrace common SC strategies.
... After the game, the educator asked about their coping behaviour, physical reactions, and thoughts to make adolescents more aware of how to recognize stress. During the lessons the adolescents were exposed to breathing exercises (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), muscle relaxation exercises (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), and positive thinking (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). The Stress Lessons had multiple learning activities, such as listening (e.g., listening to the educator and watching short videos; ...
... After the game, the educator asked about their coping behaviour, physical reactions, and thoughts to make adolescents more aware of how to recognize stress. During the lessons the adolescents were exposed to breathing exercises (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), muscle relaxation exercises (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), and positive thinking (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). The Stress Lessons had multiple learning activities, such as listening (e.g., listening to the educator and watching short videos; ...
... After the game, the educator asked about their coping behaviour, physical reactions, and thoughts to make adolescents more aware of how to recognize stress. During the lessons the adolescents were exposed to breathing exercises (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), muscle relaxation exercises (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), and positive thinking (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). The Stress Lessons had multiple learning activities, such as listening (e.g., listening to the educator and watching short videos; ...
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Psychoeducation programs may increase knowledge about stress and help adolescents cope with stress. However, research about the effectiveness of psychoeducation programs about stress for adolescents is limited. The present study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the effect of a brief school-based universal psychoeducation program about stress, the Stress Lessons, in terms of knowledge and experienced stress. A total of 1613 adolescents (M = 13.41 years) from Dutch secondary schools participated. A cluster randomised controlled design was employed: classes were randomly assigned to an experimental or control condition. The experimental condition received three Stress Lessons between pre- and post-test. The Stress Lessons provided information about stress, how to recognize stress, and how to cope with and prevent stress. Questionnaires were used to assess knowledge about stress as well as experienced stress. Multilevel analyses were conducted to examine the effectiveness of the Stress Lessons and the moderating effect of gender, educational track, and ethnic background. Results showed that knowledge gain was significantly greater in the experimental than in the control condition. Experienced stress did not change due to the Stress Lessons. Moderator analyses revealed a larger effect of the Stress lessons in terms of knowledge about stress for girls compared to boys and for adolescents who followed academic compared to vocational education. Overall, the findings show that a brief psychoeducation program leads to a better understanding of stress. Therefore, it may be useful for schools to implement such programs to enhance adolescents’ awareness.
... Our and other author's findings show that most young people do not receive help in situations of mental and moral health problems [63][64][65]. In the best case, they are assisted at the level of physical health: when the body is already completely exhausted, and the person cannot cope with the problem, "escaping into a disease" (to some extent neurotic). ...
... Health promotion can be carried out by developing and applying technologies and programs of preventive, corrective, and postintervention interventions to reduce or prevent distress, using stressful situations to develop a person and society, not their degradation. Such programs and technologies will contribute to the health and well-being of the whole community [65]. ...
... Now, it is included in many modern relaxation programs. Such breathing is accompanied by an experience of vigor and vivacity [45,65,67]. ...
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Stressful events in students' and teachers' personal, academic, and professional lives are widespread. The paper discusses many effective methods and techniques for correcting and preventing stress that are simple to learn and practice. They give good results in working with children, adolescents, and youths in training and education. Some practices are more complex and require more attention and effort to understand and master them, but they also have broader capabilities in various situations. Therefore, training sessions aimed at training in the prevention and correction of (di)stress conditions are very relevant and necessary. The results showed that there is a conscious and urgent need for students to reduce anxiety and stress, including ways to deal with learning stresses. Stress management can and should be structured and systematically organized, including in the instrumental sense: students need to be taught how to manage stress and themselves, increase their resistance to stress (resilience), and be trained to use different coping techniques with anxiety, as appropriate. In an empirical study, representatives of other groups of students from three Kazakh universities answered questions from three author's stress questionnaires. According to the respondents, the study results showed that students need knowledge about stress. The study showed the urgent need for special educational and training seminars, lectures, and even courses on (di)stress and physical, mental, and moral injuries and coping with them. Such classes are needed to help schoolchildren and students cope with stress and avoid problems with moral, mental, and physical health to prevent other negative consequences of school and related strains.
... Several cross-sectional clinical studies have shown a positive association between cortisol and cardiometabolic risk factors. With stress being an integral part of modern life that has become a significant health problem [5,6], the importance of biomarkers that can assist in the treatment of stress-related diseases should only increase. ...
... Stress can be defined as any stimuli that can alter homeostasis and causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. It impairs both physical and physiological health [6], resulting in a higher risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases [5,6]. Stress can be the result of psychosocial factors like anxiety, social isolation, and traumatic life events. ...
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Hair cortisol is increasingly becoming a reliable measure of long-term cortisol concentration and is thought to be a suitable biomarker for chronic stress. Further, a growing amount of scientific literature links elevated hair cortisol concentration with well-known cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. This has important implications for the prognosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease. This review focuses on the association between increased hair cortisol and stress-related cardiometabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. While the evidence for the relationship between cardiometabolic risk and elevated hair cortisol is clear and compelling, the data is inconsistent. Further studies are needed to support the use of hair cortisol as a biomarker of cardiometabolic risk in cardiovascular disease.
... Several previous studies have shown that relaxation is proven effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and increasing subjective well-being (Kaspereen, 2012;Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). Relaxation is a technique to reduce psychological and physiological tension (Dunford & Thompson, 2010). ...
... Besides, the muscle tension previously felt by one of the participants also diminished after relaxation. This is in line with previous studies conducted by (Conrad & Roth, 2007), (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011), (Kaspereen, 2012) revealed that relaxation can reduce stress, reduce anxiety, improve the quality of life and welfare of individuals. ...
Article
Parenting stress was experienced by all mothers, especially mothers who had preschool-age children. Parenting stress experienced by the mother would affect the confidence and perception of the mother towards care so that it affected the child's development and family stability. This research aimed to examine the effectiveness of relaxation training in reducing parenting stress of mothers for preschool-age children. Five mothers of preschool children participated in this research. The measuring instrument used was the parenting stress index, with a one-group pretest-posttest design research design. The results showed that relaxation training was significantly proven to reduce the stress of parenting in preschool children. The participants expressed that they felt more relaxed and calm so that they were able to manage emotions and find alternative solutions when facing problems that caused the emergence of parenting stress. Besides, physical tension felt to be more reduced.
... Perubahan nilai tekanan darah terjadi pada kelompok dewasa setelah melakukan intervensi edukasi kelompok terkait modifikasi gaya hidup dan manajemen stress hipertensi. Hasil ini sesuai dengan penelitian Varvogli Liza & Darviri Christina (2011) bahwa program edukasi modifikasi gaya hidup dengan latihan pada usia dewasa menunjukkan rerata penurunan tekanan darah setelah 8 minggu intervensi yaitu tekanan darah sistole 127,4 ±0,45 dan diastole 81,01±0,30. Hal ini terjadi karena kelompok dewasa mampu mengontrol diri melakukan modifikasi gaya hidup setelah mendapatkan edukasi kesehatan serta adanya monitoring yang dilakukan mendorong dewasa hipertensi meningkatkan pengelolaan diri hipertensi. ...
... Hal ini karena penerapan inervensi edukasi kelompok terkait modifikasi gaya hidup dan manajemen stress hipertensi dapat meningkatkan kesadaran kelompok terhadap kesehatan sehingga mempengaruhi kelompok dalam merencanakan dan mencapai tujuan yaitu terkontrolnya tekanan darah. Hal ini sesuai dengan pendapat Varvogli Liza & Darviri Christina (2011) bahwa salah satu kemampuan yang harus dimiliki dalam manajemen stres adalah meningkatkan kesadaran akan stresor, kemampuan memecahkan masalah serta manajemen emosi. Kemampuan kognitif tersebut meliputi pengetahuan, pemahaman dan keterampilan dalam melakukan manajemen stres yang diperoleh dari penerapan intervensi keperawatan edukasi kelompok manajemen stres hipertensi. ...
Article
Hipertensi merupakan penyakit tidak menular dengan prevalensi meningkat setiap tahun dan menjadi salah satu penyebab kematian akibat dari komplikasinya yang terjadi pada usia dewasa. Pengelolaan hipertensi dapat dilakukan melalui modifikasi gaya hidup dan manajemen stres melalui latihan relaksasi otot progresif. Edukasi modifikasi gaya hidup dan manajemen stres melalui latihan relaksasi otot progresif diberikan pada kelompok dewasa hipertensi dalam dua Posbindu PTM di UPT Puskesmas Rejosari Kabupaten Pringsewu sebanyak 50 orang. Intervensi tersebut diberikan satu bulan sekali selama 60 menit selama empat bulan. Hasil implementasi didapatkan perubahan rerata pengetahuan dari 60,00 menjadi 68,60, penurunan TDS dari 148,30±30,59 menjadi 144,44±28,06 dan TDD dari 92,30±15,91 menjadi 89,90±16,58. Intervensi keperawatan edukasi kelompok berpengaruh terhadap pengetahuan pengelolaan hipertensi (p value
... In a sequential pattern, with eyes closed, the individual places a tension in a given muscle group purposefully for approximately 10 seconds and then releases it for 20 seconds before continuing with the next muscle group and the mental component requires that the individual focuses on the distinction between the feelings of the tension and relaxation, so the contraction of skeletal muscle fibres leads to the sensation of muscle tension, the result of a complex interaction of the central and peripheral nervous system with the muscular and the skeletal system and relaxation is the absence of perceived muscle tension. According to [11,13] complete muscle relaxation is incompatible with having any thoughts or feelings, the relationship of muscle tension, relaxation and autonomic nervous system that reduction in skeletal muscle tone leads loss of a ergotropic tone of a hypothalamus and diminution of hypothalamic discharges which consequently leads to dominance of trophotropic system ,also called parasympathetic activation which include reductions in HR and BP, increased activity of the digestive system by which nutrition absorption increases, and muscle endurance increases [24]. Supported that progressive muscular relaxation reduces stress response. ...
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Introduction: Lumbago also called as Chronic back pain is defined as pain over lumbo sacral junction the term referred to Lumbago .The duration of pain continues for more than 12 weeks called as Chronic Lumbago. Lumbago is the major cause of activity limitation in any age group. Objective of the study: To find out therapeutic effects of progressive muscular relaxation on stress and disability associated with chronic Chronic Lumbago. Methodology: 30 Chronic Lumbago subjects were included in the study with age group 25-35 years. All the subjects were random selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients randomly divided into two groups (CG & EG), experimental group were received progressive muscular relaxation & hydro collator pack. Control group treatment given only hydro collator pack. Outcome measures were noted as stress using DASS and pain intensity measured by VAS. All the measurements were recorded from baseline to before discharge. Result: EG Baseline score level (VAS 23, Stress7.5) and CG Baseline score value is (VAS 21, Stress7.6). EG post intervention score level (VAS2.5, Stress12.0 (p<00.1) and CG post intervention value is (VAS 6.0, Stress8.0 (p<00.1)). Conclusion: The investigator declared that the application of tailored made Progressive muscular relaxation treatment approach which helps to reduction in perception of pain, stress and improvement in spinal, mental overall health, wellbeing livelihood and wisdom for the management of Chronic Lumbago.
... Additionally, relaxation can help with chronic pain, insomnia, sadness, worry, wound healing, mental health, and post-traumatic stress disorders. (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). Increases in alpha and theta brainwaves, lowered heart rate and respiration, decreased levels of stress hormones like corticosteroids, and a variety of immune system functions can all be attributed to relaxation. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Papworth breathing is a relaxation technique through which patients can change physical, emotional, and stressful behaviors using their thought. This technique is based on muscle relaxation and the patient learning how to achieve mental relaxation. Biological, social, and psychological aspects of children are all impacted by diabetes, a chronic illness. Stress and pressure from parents, doctors, and other carers are a part of everyday life for kids with diabetes mellitus. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of evidence-based papworth breathing technique on anxiety among school-age diabetic children. Subjects and Method: A quasi-experimental (pre-post-test) design implemented for 100 diabetic child (50 study group and 50 control group). Two tools included: Tool I: A designed direct interview form established by the investigators that included personal and clinical data of children. Tool II: Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED). It was adopted from Birmaher et al. (1997). Results: The mean of all symptoms of anxiety disorders in the study group is less than that of a control group in the post-program phase and follow-up phase with P. Value <0.01. Conclusion: Papworth technique led to an effective improvement in the management of anxiety in daily life. Recommendations: Hospitals should include Papworth technique in their policies and care plans as basic intervention care for children with chronic illness.
... In addition to the above, a link was observed between the level of presence, immersion and the emotional experience provided by VR, mainly in terms of arousal (Diemer et al. 2015;Riva et al. 2007). In turn, VR's strengthening influence on emotions groups both positive and negative emotions (Lavoie et al. 2021), universally categorized into 5 basic emotions: anger, fear, disgust, sadness, and happiness (Ekman & Friesen 1971 Regarding relaxation therapy, it resorts to certain stress management techniques such as biofeedback training with the user's information to increase heart rate variability, accelerated breathing, muscle relaxation or mental imagery and music (Liza 2011). This type of therapy can be enhanced by immersing users in an environment suitable for relaxation (Trappey et al. 2020), even providing the possibility of being able to create customizable experiences for the user (Pizzoli et al. 2019), which makes VR very attractive 6 Li et al. (2021) The state of stress leads to anxiety and depression, the theory of attention restoration (ART) states that an activity which requires psychological resources arouses directional attention and depending on its duration and intensity can cause mental fatigue (Kaplan 1995), and the theory of stress reduction (SRT), focused on the emotional response to nature, exposes the positive effect of diverting one's gaze to an environment containing plants and water on one's emotions and physiology after being exposed to a calm and complex environment that requires attention (Ulrich 1983). ...
Article
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Emotions influence the way people react in different contexts. Virtual reality (VR) makes it possible to generate environments that can resemble a real experience. These concepts were taken as the basis of the review, focusing on the use of VR on emotions. The search for information was carried out in the Scopus database (179) and other sources of information (17), and the selection criteria were applied to 196 results, such as the user’s interaction with the environment and the application of a software development of VR applications, resulting in the analysis of 16 studies. Unity was found to be used in 81.25% of the articles, HTC Vive appears in 37.5% of the research. The minimum time of application of the experience is 1-min contrasting with the maximum time of 30 min. Only theories of emotions were mentioned in 18.75% of the articles, most of the research uses VR to influence users (56.25%) and with the indicators only 1 article coincides with ISO 25000.
... By mentally practicing tranquil images or imagining preferred results, individuals can stimulate brain regions linked to emotion control and sensory processing, including the amygdala and the occipital cortex. Visualization has been demonstrated to encourage neural alterations similar to those seen in mindfulness practice, creating a calm state that can enhance pain control and reduce anxiety [111,112]. Tai Chi and Qigong, traditional practices from China that integrate movement, breath management, and meditation, have been discovered to affect brain regions linked to motor control, balance, and emotional regulation. Tai Chi has demonstrated the ability to enhance motor coordination and balance, which are crucial for individuals healing from neurological issues such as stroke or Parkinson's disease. ...
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Background and Objectives: Meditation and mindfulness, rooted in ancient traditions, enhance mental well-being by cultivating awareness and emotional control. It has been shown to induce neuroplasticity, increase cortical thickness, reduce amygdala reactivity, and improve brain connectivity and neurotransmitter levels, leading to improved emotional regulation, cognitive function, and stress resilience. This systematic review will synthesize research on neurobiological changes associated with mindfulness and meditation practices. Materials and Methods: Studies were identified from an online search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases without any search time range. This review has been registered on Open OSF (n) GV2JY. Results: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) enhances brain regions related to emotional processing and sensory perception, improves psychological outcomes like anxiety and depression, and exhibits unique mechanisms of pain reduction compared to placebo. Conclusions: This review highlights that mindfulness, particularly through MBSR, improves emotional regulation and brain structure, reduces anxiety, and enhances stress resilience. Future research should focus on diverse populations and naturalistic settings to better understand and optimize these benefits.
... However, the perceived anxiety of the farm volunteers decreased to a greater degree as a result of goat caretaking compared to the anxiety changed due to walking in the botanical garden. Yoga [50], music [51], and various relaxation and meditation techniques [52], among others, also have the potential to relieve the mental and physical tension caused by everyday stress. In most studies, a measurement of state anxiety is used for confirmation. ...
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Over the past two decades, farm animal-assisted therapies have become popular. However, the effects of farm animals on healthy people’s mental states have not yet been investigated. In Study 1, we aimed to explore whether positive effects of human-animal interaction (HAI) can be detected in healthy farm volunteers even after short-term (2–3 hours) work with goats and goatlings on a goat farm. We found that the participants’ state anxiety decreased (p < 0.001) while their trust levels increased (p < 0.001) after interacting with goats. Nevertheless, it is possible that time spent in nature alone can have a beneficial effect on well-being. Therefore, in Study 2, we compared the results of Study 1 with those of a similar short-term outdoor treatment, walking in a botanical garden as a visitor. Similar but smaller effects were found for garden visitors. Decreases in anxiety scores and increases in trust scores were more pronounced in farm volunteers (anxiety: 25% vs 13%, p < 0.001; trust: 13% vs 3%, p = 0.002) after the treatments. Overall, the results suggest that the novel experience of interacting with goats and goatlings has a more positive effect on the mental state of healthy humans than walking in a botanical garden. This finding offer a strong foundation for developing animal assisted therapy methods for individuals with short or long term mental problems, but they can also enhance the wellbeing of mentally healthy people.
... Deep and slow breathing has been correlated with increased cerebral blood flow (Vernikos et al. 2012), reduction in hypertension (Kaushik et al. 2006), cardiovascular improvement (Singh et al. 2004, and increased parasympathetic activity (Mourya et al. 2009). It has been proposed that deep and slow breathing may be able to recalibrate the autonomic nervous system, thereby synchronising cortical, subcortical and cardio-pulmonary structures (Varvogli, Darviri 2011). ...
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Research indicates that even short duration space flight may cause deficits to psychological health. Crewed members of spaceflights are also vulnerable to various neurobehavioral problems, which may reduce psychological health, work efficiency and group cohesiveness. Mindfulness meditation as a psychological countermeasure for long-term space missions has received increasing attention. Mindfulness techniques have been shown to provide various cognitive and affective benefits in clinical settings, these have yet to be employed as a feasible psychological countermeasure for space crews. Therefore, this paper will propose that the use of mindfulness-based intervention may offer a feasible adjunct countermeasure for several psychological and performance risks for astronauts during long-term space missions.
... Additionally, relaxation can help with chronic pain, insomnia, sadness, worry, wound healing, mental health, and post-traumatic stress disorders. (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). Increases in alpha and theta brainwaves, lowered heart rate and respiration, decreased levels of stress hormones like corticosteroids, and a variety of immune system functions can all be attributed to relaxation. ...
Article
Background: Papworth breathing is a relaxation technique through which patients can change physical, emotional, and stressful behaviors using thought. This technique is based on muscle relaxation and the patient learning how to achieve mental relaxation. Biological, social, and psychological aspects of children are all impacted by diabetes, a chronic illness. Stress and pressure from parents, doctors, and other carers are a part of everyday life for kids with diabetes mellitus. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of evidence-based papworth breathing techniques on anxiety among school-age diabetic children. Subjects and Method: A quasi-experimental (pre-post-test) design was implemented for 100 diabetic children (50 study and 50 control groups). Two tools included: Tool I: A designed direct interview form established by the investigators that included personal and clinical data of children. Tool II: Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED). It was adopted by Birmaher et al. (1997). Results: The mean of all symptoms of anxiety disorders in the study group is less than that of a control group in the post-program phase and follow-up phase with P. Value <0.01. Conclusion: Papworth technique led to an effective improvement in the management of anxiety in daily life. Recommendations: Hospitals should include Papworth technique in their policies and care plans as basic intervention care for children with chronic illness.
... Some of these techniques could include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, relaxation response, and music-assisted imagery. [109][110][111][112][113] Music therapists are trained in how to incorporate these techniques into patients' treatment, as well as the utilization of specific music therapy interventions such as singing, instrument playing, improvisation, songwriting, and movement to music. Music makes movement more interesting, it provides a pleasant distraction, it energizes and motivates, and it increases the release of endorphins. ...
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Lifestyle interventions are strategies used to self‐manage medical conditions, such as epilepsy, and often complement traditional pharmacologic and surgical therapies. The need for integrating evidence‐based lifestyle interventions into mainstream medicine for the treatment of epilepsy is evident given that despite the availability of a multitude of treatments with medications and surgical techniques, a significant proportion of patients have refractory seizures, and even those who are seizure‐free report significant adverse effects with current treatments. Although the evidence base for complementary medicine is less robust than it is for traditional forms of medicine, the evidence to date suggests that several forms of complementary medicine including yoga, mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, diet and nutrition, exercise and memory rehabilitation, and music therapy may have important roles as adjuncts in the treatment armamentarium for epilepsy. These topics were discussed by a diverse group of medical providers and scientists at the “Lifestyle Intervention for Epilepsy (LIFE)” symposium hosted by Cleveland Clinic. Plain Language Summary There are many people with epilepsy who continue to have seizures even though they are being treated with medication or brain surgery. Even after seizures stop, some may experience medication side effects. There is research to suggest that certain lifestyle changes, such as yoga, mindfulness, exercise, music therapy, and adjustments to diet, could help people with epilepsy, when used along with routine treatment. Experts discussed the latest research at the “Lifestyle Intervention for Epilepsy (LIFE)” symposium hosted by Cleveland Clinic.
... In the current study exercise program, the students were instructed to breathe diaphragmatically in a controlled manner without disrupting the correct head posture and to concentrate on their breathing. It has been reported that diaphragmatic breathing exercises provide a reduction in blood pressure and pulse rate by stimulating the parasympathetic system, lower the stress level of the individual and create a sedative effect [36]. In a study of Canadian university students, the duration and frequency of use of mobile handheld devices was found to be related to the prevalence of neck pain [37]. ...
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Authors' Contribution: A-Study design; B-Data collection; C-Statistical analysis; D-Manuscript Preparation; E-Funds Collection. Abstract Purpose: The present study investigated the effect of a 5x5 exercise program on sleep quality, fatigue, neck pain, head posture, daily walking, sitting, sleeping and smartphone usage time. Material: An exercise program was applied to 54 university students (17 males, 37 females) between October and November 2019. The five exercises lasted approximately 15-20 minutes in each training session (diaphragmatic breathing, axial neck extension, cervical stabilization, pectoral stretch, and shoulder retractor strengthening) that was performed 5 times a day, 5 days a week for 5 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Forward Head Posture (FHP), number of daily steps, sitting time, sleep time, and smartphone usage time were compared before and after the exercise program. The Paired Samples t-test was used to compare differences between the pre-exercise and post-exercise variables. Statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Following the 5-week exercise program, sleep quality improved, and levels of neck disability and fatigue were lower and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). No change was determined in FHP, daily sitting time and daily number of steps, sleep hours, and smartphone usage time (p>0.05). Conclusions: The 5-week program of posture correction, stretching and strengthening exercises improved sleep quality, fatigue levels, and neck disability. The findings of this study can be used to improve the sleep quality, fatigue and neck problems of both students and sedentary workers.
... Studies indicate that younger people are more vulnerable to mental health problems and adjusted poorly to the pandemic (Varma et al., 2021). Stress management practices, including meditation, mindfulness, and yoga, have been shown to increase relaxation and reduce stress (Varvogli & Darviri 2011), but adherence to these practices is inconsistent, especially among young people (Danilewitz et al., 2018;Erogul et al., 2014;Gard et al., 2012). This highlights the need for acceptable, engaging, and effective self-management interventions that improve well-being for young adults. ...
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High stress levels experienced by young adults were exacerbated by COVID-19 and traditional stress management techniques can be challenging. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation appears promising and is accessible remotely; however, research on young adults is limited, especially in naturalistic settings. This remotely delivered and controlled mixed-methods study investigated feasibility and acceptability of VR relaxation for young adults (N = 23, mean age = 22.96) at home during the pandemic. VR participants (N = 11) were asked to complete daily VR relaxation sessions (scenes of virtual beaches, mountains, the sea, and more) for a 14-day intervention period, alongside visual analogue scales (VAS) of psychological well-being pre- and post-VR sessions. Post-intervention, VR participants completed semi-structured interviews. Control participants (N = 12) received no intervention. Both groups completed outcome measures of psychological well-being pre- and post-intervention periods to evaluate feasibility of remote data collection. VAS results indicated acceptability of daily VR, with significant short-term increases in relaxation, happiness, and connectedness to nature, and decreases in stress, anxiety, and sadness within VR participants. VR usage and 100% completion of outcome measures indicated feasibility of VR relaxation and remote data collection. Qualitative findings suggest participants found the VR relaxing, but interest diminished over time and technical issues hindered user experience. This suggests a more informal, less prescriptive frequency of VR use may be more appealing for young adults, although adherence may relate to technical issues. Greater interactivity and remote technical assistance within VR could increase engagement. Future research should investigate optimal frequency of use, longer-term impact, and technical issues with a larger sample.
... Selain itu, relaksasi dapat membantu orang mengelola emosinya dengan lebih baik dan melakukan aktivitas fisik yang memfasilitasi interaksi sosial bagi mereka yang mengalaminya. Ada tiga aspek perubahan kualitas hidup: psikologis, sosial, dan fisik (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). ...
Article
Pendahuluan: Hipertensi didefinisikan sebagai peningkatan tekanan darah di atas normal, dengan tekanan sistolik 140 mmHg dan tekanan diastolik lebih dari 90 mmHg. Yang juga dikenal dengan sebutan penyakit pembunuh diam-diam, yang mengakibatkan 7,5 juta kematian di dunia. Teknik relaksasi pernafasan dalam dapat digunakan untuk menurunkan hipertensi. Penelitian ini berupaya untuk memastikan apakah relaksasi pernafasan dalam dapat menurunkan tekanan darah pada penderita hipertensi. Metode: literatur review berdasarkan temuan penelitian yang diterbitkan antara tahun 2018 dan 2022 digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Dengan database yang digunakan Google Cendekia dengan kata kunci "Pernapasan Dalam dan Hipertensi", sebuah strategi untuk mencari literatur diterapkan. Parameter pencarian meliputi judul artikel yang membahas hubungan hipertensi, ketersediaan teks lengkap, sampel, dan tahun publikasi dalam lima tahun terakhir. Hasil: Dari 10 artikel menggambarkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan antara sebelum dan sesudah dilakukan teknik tersebut. Kesimpulan: dalam tindakan relaksasi pernafasan dalam sebaiknya dilakukan secara kontinu dan sesuai standar yang berlaku. Faktor yang mempengaruhi ketidakefetifan relaksasi nafas dalam diantaranya pola hidup yang tidak sehat, mengonsumsi makanan berlemak, mengonsumsi garam berlebihan, usia, hormon estrogen, dan jenis kelamin.
... Dalam dunia psikologi, teknik relaksasi merupakan salah satu teknik yang paling populer untuk meredakan rasa stress, tegang dan cemas. Menurut Varvogli & Darviri, (2011) Lain halnya dengan gym yang lebih banyak melakukan aktivitas angkat beban yang membentuk massa tubuh melalui otot. Saat seseorang telah terjun ke gym, seseorang tersebut pasti mempunyai goals atau tujuan yang ingin dicapainya, seperti menurunkan berat badan, mengecilkan beberapa bagian tubuh, membentuk otot dan lain hal. ...
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The productive period for men and women will face many challenges in life, starting from lifestyle, body image, career, quarter life crisis, education which can later lead to stress, anxiety disorders, depression, irregular eating patterns and not paying attention to the type of food consumed. The purpose of this study was to determine mental health and self-regulation of eating habits among yoga and gym members. The method used is descriptive quantitative and purposive sampling technique. The data collection technique uses the Self Reporting Questionnaire 29 questionnaire and the Self-Regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire. The results showed that the percentage of mental health in the yoga group in the category of anxiety and depression was 4%, symptoms of PTSD disorder were 4%. While the percentage of mental health results in the gym group with anxiety and depression categories was 23%, symptoms of psychotic disorders were 46%, and symptoms of PTSD disorders were 35%. Meanwhile, the percentage of results of self-regulation of eating habits in the yoga group was in the low category of 4%, medium 65% and high 31%. While the percentage of the results of self-regulation of eating habits in the gym group was in the low category of 8%, medium 58% and high 34%. The conclusion in this study is that the mental health of 20–30-year-old members of yoga is included in the good category and gym is included in the poor category. While the self-regulation of eating habits of yoga and gym members is mostly in the moderate category.
... But that fact does not minimize the toll stress can take on mental health [17] , and it highlights the importance of finding ways to ameliorate or relieve stress on a regular basis in order to prevent it reaching problematic levels [18] . Daily exercise is often recommended by health professionals and organizations as a way to combat psychological stress [19][20][21] . College students exercise frequently as a means to maintain fitness and relieve stress [22] . ...
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This study investigated the possible effect of varying levels of interaction fidelity (IF) in virtual reality (VR) games on several beneficial outcomes, including stress relief, calories burned, spatial presence, and enjoyment. Players were asked to play one of three VR games with varying IF levels. Results indicated that interaction fidelity was not a significant factor in these outcomes except for enjoyment; the high IF game was enjoyed more than the low IF game. However, playing any game did have a significant, if small, impact overall on both stress relief and calories burned. The results are encouraging due to the indication that spending time in VR and metaverse applications may have small but inherent health benefits.
... Given its association with increased activation of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles, SBE has the potential to enhance exercise capacity by delaying the onset of dyspnea and fatigue. [38] Patients diagnosed with hypertension often exhibit hyperventilation symptoms even during rest periods. This suggests that the cardio-respiratory abnormalities observed in these individuals may be linked to a shared excitatory pattern within the autonomic nervous system. ...
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Purpose The present study aims to investigate the combined effect of slow breathing exercise (SBE) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) technique on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and anxiety in patients diagnosed with essential hypertension. Trial design This study was based on a 4-arm parallel-group, randomized control design. Methods Sixty-four participants diagnosed with essential hypertension were randomly allocated into SBE, PMR, SBE-PMR, and Control groups, with 16 subjects each. All 3 groups received different treatments according to their name; however, the Control group received no treatment. Systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), HR, RR, and anxiety were all evaluated as the study outcomes using a digital sphygmomanometer and perceived stress scale (PSS) at baseline (pretest), 2nd week and 4th weeks post-intervention. A repeated measure analysis of variance test assessed intra-group comparison (overall) analyses across multiple time points. Bonferroni multiple comparison tests were used to analyze the mean differences between the groups. The confidence interval was kept at 95% for all the statistical analyses, that is, P < .05 is considered significant. Results There was a significant change in the HR (F = 239.04, P = .0001), RR (F = 167.74, P = .0001), SBP (F = 266.64, P = .0001), DSP (F = 279.80, P = .0001), and PSS (F = 473.42, P = .0001) as an outcome of baseline measurements versus (vs) the following weeks. There were significant (F = 48.57, P = .001) differences among different training on HR. The SBE vs SBE-PMR showed an insignificant difference (F = 48.54, P = 1.000). The RR showed significant differences (F = 32.05, 0.0001) between the SBE vs PMR, SBE vs Control, PMR vs Control, and SBE-PMR vs Control groups and insignificant differences for the SBE vs SBE-PMR and PMR vs SBE-PMR groups. The SBE vs SBE-PMR groups showed insignificant differences for DPP and SBP. However, PSS showed significant differences (F = 67.12, P = .0001) among the intervention groups except for the PMR and SBE-PMR groups. Conclusions The combined interventions of SBEs and progressive muscle relaxation techniques can effectively reduce the heart rate, respiratory rate, BP, and anxiety in essential hypertensive patients compared to both techniques when given alone.
... An important feature of PE is the emphasis placed on the practical development of stress management skills [55]. Consistent with BattleSMART, PE adopts the perspective that stress-management skills are central to optimal human performance. ...
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BACKGROUND Psychological stress-related injuries within first-responder organizations have created a need for the implementation of effective stress management training. Most stress management training solutions have limitations associated with scaled adoption within the workforce. For instance, those that are effective in civilian populations often do not align with the human performance culture embedded within first-responder organizations. Programs involving expert-led instructions that are high in quality are often expensive. OBJECTIVE This study sought to evaluate a tailored stress management training platform within the existing training schedule of the Australian Defense Force (ADF). The platform, known as Performance Edge (PE), is a novel virtual reality (VR) and biofeedback-enabled stress management skills training platform. Focusing on practical training of well-established skills and strategies, the platform was designed to take advantage of VR technology to generate an immersive and private training environment. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering the VR platform within the existing group-based training context and intended training population. In this setting, the study further aimed to collect data on critical predictors of user acceptance and technology adoption in education, including perceived usability, usefulness, and engagement, while also assessing training impacts. METHODS This study used a mixed methods, multisite approach to collect observational, self-reported, and biometric data from both training staff and trainers within a real-world “on-base” training context in the ADF. Validated scales include the Presence Questionnaire and User Engagement Scale for perceived usefulness, usability, and engagement, as well as the State Mindfulness Scale and Relaxation Inventory, to gain insights into immediate training impacts for specific training modules. Additional surveys were specifically developed to assess implementation feedback, intention to use skills, and perceived training impact and value. RESULTS PE training was delivered to 189 ADF trainees over 372 training sessions. The platform was easy to use at an individual level and was feasible to deliver in a classroom setting. Trainee feedback consistently showed high levels of engagement and a sense of presence with the training content and environment. PE is overall perceived as an effective and useful training tool. Self-report and objective indices confirmed knowledge improvement, increased skill confidence, and increased competency after training. Specific training elements resulted in increased state mindfulness, increased physical relaxation, and reduced breathing rate. The ability to practice cognitive strategies in a diverse, private, and immersive training environment while in a group setting was highlighted as particularly valuable. CONCLUSIONS This study found the VR-based platform (PE) to be a feasible stress management training solution for group-based training delivery in a defense population. Furthermore, the intended end users, both trainers and trainees, perceive the platform to be usable, useful, engaging, and effective for training, suggesting end-user acceptance and potential for technology adoption.
... An important feature of PE is the emphasis placed on the practical development of stress management skills [55]. Consistent with BattleSMART, PE adopts the perspective that stress-management skills are central to optimal human performance. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background Psychological stress-related injuries within first-responder organizations have created a need for the implementation of effective stress management training. Most stress management training solutions have limitations associated with scaled adoption within the workforce. For instance, those that are effective in civilian populations often do not align with the human performance culture embedded within first-responder organizations. Programs involving expert-led instructions that are high in quality are often expensive. Objective This study sought to evaluate a tailored stress management training platform within the existing training schedule of the Australian Defense Force (ADF). The platform, known as Performance Edge (PE), is a novel virtual reality (VR) and biofeedback-enabled stress management skills training platform. Focusing on practical training of well-established skills and strategies, the platform was designed to take advantage of VR technology to generate an immersive and private training environment. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering the VR platform within the existing group-based training context and intended training population. In this setting, the study further aimed to collect data on critical predictors of user acceptance and technology adoption in education, including perceived usability, usefulness, and engagement, while also assessing training impacts. Methods This study used a mixed methods, multisite approach to collect observational, self-reported, and biometric data from both training staff and trainers within a real-world “on-base” training context in the ADF. Validated scales include the Presence Questionnaire and User Engagement Scale for perceived usefulness, usability, and engagement, as well as the State Mindfulness Scale and Relaxation Inventory, to gain insights into immediate training impacts for specific training modules. Additional surveys were specifically developed to assess implementation feedback, intention to use skills, and perceived training impact and value. Results PE training was delivered to 189 ADF trainees over 372 training sessions. The platform was easy to use at an individual level and was feasible to deliver in a classroom setting. Trainee feedback consistently showed high levels of engagement and a sense of presence with the training content and environment. PE is overall perceived as an effective and useful training tool. Self-report and objective indices confirmed knowledge improvement, increased skill confidence, and increased competency after training. Specific training elements resulted in increased state mindfulness, increased physical relaxation, and reduced breathing rate. The ability to practice cognitive strategies in a diverse, private, and immersive training environment while in a group setting was highlighted as particularly valuable. Conclusions This study found the VR-based platform (PE) to be a feasible stress management training solution for group-based training delivery in a defense population. Furthermore, the intended end users, both trainers and trainees, perceive the platform to be usable, useful, engaging, and effective for training, suggesting end-user acceptance and potential for technology adoption.
... Furthermore, skin changes, rashes, and pimples significantly improved among the study group after practicing PMRT. This result agrees with the fact that PMRT decreases salivary cortisol and improves immune system functions, which justifies the improvement of these symptoms [21]. ...
Article
Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) stands as one the most prevalent health issues, especially among female university students. The syndrome substantially impacts their quality of life and academic performance. The progressive muscle relaxation technique is a calming method that can help lower anxiety, cultivate a sense of pain control, and divert away from the painful body part. Objective: The study sought to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation technique on premenstrual syndrome among female nursing students. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 female students (40 students in the study group and 40 in the control group) enrolled in the third and fourth academic years (2020-2021). Students were randomly assigned to either the control or study group using a random number generator program. The progressive muscle relaxation technique was performed 30 minutes daily for 4 weeks. Baseline data were collected from all students. The premenstrual syndrome scale assessed the intensity of PMS before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square test, the student t-test, the Monte Carlo test, the Mann-Whitney test, and the marginal homogeneity test. P<0.05 were considered significant. Results: The study found that the Mean±SD age of the study and control group participants were 22.02+0.73 and 21.95+0.67 years, respectively. Also, more than two-thirds of the students in the study and control groups (70% and 67.5%, respectively) were from rural areas. After the intervention, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the intensity of all physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms among the study group compared to the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the total score of PMS intensity was significantly decreased among the study group after the intervention (P=0.001). In contrast, the total score of the intensity of PMS symptoms was significantly increased in the control group (P=0.034). Conclusion: The study concluded that young adult girls who practiced progressive muscle relaxation techniques exhibited less severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms than those who did not.
... From the survey it has been seen that, none of the proposal provide a method for human stress reduction using technology. Till now work is done on detecting the stress and evaluating it [2], [3], [4], [7], [10], [9], and [11]. Also some works are done on identifying the stress level [1]. ...
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World health organization says that, nowadays people mental health problems and also physical problems are because of stress. This stress is major problem of our times. There are many stress detection methods are available. To study the human behavior there are many techniques are available which monitors the human brain. However, there is less research available on reduction of stress methods in terms of technology but studies are available on stress detection methods. This research proposes a method that uses the EEG signals for detecting the stress in humans and introduces the stress reduction techniques by adding interventions into the method. K-means clustering method used in the research to measure the stress which help in dividing the subjects into different classes and detect the stress level. Product for human stress reduction can be developed by using this method. The success of implementation and development of this research expected to help in reducing time consumed and human power in determining best recommendation and solution for stress management.
... Additionally, relaxation can help with chronic pain, insomnia, sadness, worry, wound healing, mental health, and post-traumatic stress disorders. (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). Increases in alpha and theta brainwaves, lowered heart rate and respiration, decreased levels of stress hormones like corticosteroids, and a variety of immune system functions can all be attributed to relaxation. ...
Article
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Background: Papworth breathing is a relaxation technique through which patients can change physical, emotional, and stressful behaviors using their thought. This technique is based on muscle relaxation and the patient learning how to achieve mental relaxation. Biological, social, and psychological aspects of children are all impacted by diabetes, a chronic illness. Stress and pressure from parents, doctors, and other carers are a part of everyday life for kids with diabetes mellitus. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of evidence-based papworth breathing technique on anxiety among school-age diabetic children. Subjects and Method: A quasi-experimental (pre-post-test) design implemented for 100 diabetic child (50 study group and 50 control group). Two tools included: Tool I: A designed direct interview form established by the investigators that included personal and clinical data of children. Tool II: Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED). It was adopted from Birmaher et al. (1997). Results: The mean of all symptoms of anxiety disorders in the study group is less than that of a control group in the post-program phase and follow-up phase with P. Value <0.01. Conclusion: Papworth technique led to an effective improvement in the management of anxiety in daily life. Recommendations: Hospitals should include Papworth technique in their policies and care plans as basic intervention care for children with chronic illness.
... The study's results align with earlier research [21], [22], [23] which indicates that individuals who handle stress well, whether consciously or not, are more likely to thrive in everyday situations. ...
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The objective of this study was to analyze specific biomarkers of interest and find correlations between them using hormonal and cardiovascular measurements. The aim was to explore these physiological patterns during a typical weekday. While this research provides valuable insights into physiological patterns and their potential impact on mental performance, it’s essential to note that the study did not aim to diagnose, treat, or propose specific medical interventions based on the findings. Instead, the focus was solely on observational data collection and analysis for the purpose of exploring correlations and understanding daily physiological fluctuations in the context of stress and cognitive performance. Furthermore, the team observed how a low-level stress-triggered cognitive task could alter, and possibly impair, mental performance due to fluctuations in these selected data points. Five (5) adult, healthy participants (aged between 20 and 35 years) volunteered for the small-scaled study (two male and three female). In the current study, participants with larger hormonal and cardiovascular fluctuations during a 5-minute stress-induced task did not achieve as well as those with more stable physiological measurements. Interestingly, a significant peak in cortisol levels was detected during the mental task, likely due to the stress-induced environment. The current, and vastly limited methods used for at-home, hormonal measurements, as well as the slightly unreliable sensor technology used in general pulse oximeters measuring blood oxygen saturation in this trial, indicate the great need to develop new solutions. This includes innovations that would make health monitoring more convenient, while at the same time emphasizing improved mental well-being in daily situations, all without having to continuously wear a gadget to obtain precise insights about multiple health metrics.
... In common face-to-face stress management trainings, stress-related beliefs are usually targeted with cognitive restructuring, where the therapist guides participants to the insight that stress-related beliefs are neither valid nor healthy and helps them to complement or replace the beliefs with more valid and healthier ones [27]. As this approach is very much personalized, it requires direct interaction with a well-trained therapist. ...
Article
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Background Stress levels and thus the risk of developing related physical and mental health conditions are rising worldwide. Dysfunctional beliefs contribute to the development of stress. Potentially, such beliefs can be modified with approach-avoidance modification trainings (AAMT). As previous research indicates that effects of AAMTs are small, there is a need for innovative ways of increasing the efficacy of these interventions. For this purpose, we aim to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention and study design and explore the efficacy of an innovative emotion-based AAMT version (eAAMT) that uses the display of emotions to move stress-inducing beliefs away from and draw stress-reducing beliefs towards oneself. Methods We will conduct a parallel randomized controlled pilot study at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Individuals with elevated stress levels will be randomized to one of eight study conditions (n = 10 per condition) — one of six variants of the eAAMT, an active control intervention (swipe-based AAMT), or an inactive control condition. Participants in the intervention groups will engage in four sessions of 20–30 min (e)AAMT training on consecutive days. Participants in the inactive control condition will complete the assessments via an online tool. Non-blinded assessments will be taken directly before and after the training and 1 week after training completion. The primary outcome will be perceived stress. Secondary outcomes will be dysfunctional beliefs, symptoms of depression, emotion regulation skills, and physiological stress measures. We will compute effect sizes and conduct mixed ANOVAs to explore differences in change in outcomes between the eAAMT and control conditions. Discussion The study will provide valuable information to improve the intervention and study design. Moreover, if shown to be effective, the approach can be used as an automated smartphone-based intervention. Future research needs to identify target groups benefitting from this intervention utilized either as stand-alone treatment or an add-on intervention that is combined with other evidence-based treatments. Trial registration The trial has been registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien; DRKS00023007; September 7, 2020).
... Kasali & Rhenald (2007) (2007), smoking is a lifestyle factor that can be modified to prevent hypertension. According to Varvogli & Darviri (2011) and ...
Article
Hypertension is a disease whose cases can increase both in urban and rural communities. The occurrence of hypertension in young adults is influenced by lifestyle. The habit of tile industry workers in Notorejo Village always consumes cigarettes and coffee every break, even while working there are those who consume cigarettes. This study aimed to determine the relationship between lifestyle and the incidence of hypertension in young adults in the community of Sumber Hamlet, RT 03 RW 05, Notorejo Village, Gondang District, Tulungagung. This study uses the correlation method using a cross-sectional approach. The population is all young adults in Sumber Hamlet, RT 03 RW 05, Notorejo Village, Gondang District, Tulungagung Regency; as many as 250 people using the quota sampling technique, a sample of 30 respondents was obtained. Data were collected by observing and distributing questionnaires, then processed by editing, coding, scoring, tabulating, and testing using the Spearman-rho test. This study showed that 19 respondents (63.3%) had a good lifestyle. Of those who have optimal blood pressure, six respondents (20%), standard 11 respondents (36.7%), hypertension stage 1 three respondents (10%), hypertension stage 2 five respondents (16.7%), hypertension stage 3 as many as three respondents (10%) and hypertension stage 4 as many as two respondents (6.6%). After the Spearman-Rho Test was carried out, a P value of 0.005 was obtained because the Pvalue <α (α = 0.05) then H1 was accepted, and H0 was rejected, which means that there is a lifestyle relationship with the incidence of hypertension in young adults in the Sumber Hamlet community RT 03 RW 05 Notorejo Village, Gondang District, Tulungagung Regency. From the results of this study, it was concluded that the better the lifestyle of the community, the lower the incidence of hypertension; conversely, the worse the lifestyle of the community, the higher the incidence of hypertension. Lifestyle plays an important role and is a significant factor in the incidence of hypertension. By improving lifestyle, it will significantly reduce the incidence of hypertension.
... The GIR technique is an audio-recorded relaxation script developed by one of the authors to induce relaxation in children (31,33). It involves five relaxing stages: i) induction, ii) deepening, iii) coping strategies, iv) positive suggestions and v) closure. ...
Article
Background: In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, effectively coping with daily stressors is crucial for children who experience restrictions on physical movement and social activities. We examined the effects of the online-delivered guided imagery relaxation (GIR) technique on the stress and well-being of primary school children. Methods: Thirty-four (N = 34) 11-year-old students were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 17) or waitlist-control (n = 17) groups. The participants from the intervention group were required to attend a 4-week online GIR session and practice the techniques daily for 5 min-10 min. The Stress in Children (SiC) questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Parent Reported (SDQ-PR) and tracking form were administered pre- and post-intervention. Results: Eleven (64.7%) participants attended all sessions and eight (47.0%) completed daily practices. Mixed-model ANOVA indicated no significant difference between participants from intervention and waitlist-control groups across pre- and post-intervention time points, with P-values greater than 0.05 for stress and well-being. Conclusion: Issues regarding online intervention, including managing children's activities from a distance, Internet connectivity, and time limitations might have affected their adherence and the research outcome. Nonetheless, the online-delivered GIR technique is a promising intervention modality. However, its implementation should be improvised to be more impactful.
... Additionally, relaxation can help with chronic pain, insomnia, sadness, worry, wound healing, mental health, and post-traumatic stress disorders. (Varvogli & Darviri, 2011). Increases in alpha and theta brainwaves, lowered heart rate and respiration, decreased levels of stress hormones like corticosteroids, and a variety of immune system functions can all be attributed to relaxation. ...
... Researchers have developed numerous approaches to manage stress. The most prominent approaches include aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and relaxation (Varvogli, 2011). Stress-reducing activities are viewed as skills that require regular practice (Rao et al., 2013;Walton, 2002). ...
Article
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The job–demand–control–support model indicates that clergy are at high risk for chronic stress and adverse health outcomes. A multi-group pre-test–post-test design was used to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and range of outcome effect sizes for four potentially stress-reducing interventions: stress inoculation training, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), the Daily Examen, and Centering Prayer. All United Methodist clergy in North Carolina were eligible and recruited via email to attend their preferred intervention. Surveys at 0, 3, and 12 weeks assessed symptoms of stress, anxiety, and perceived stress reactivity. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using 24 h ambulatory heart rate monitoring data. A subset of participants completed in-depth interviews and reported skill practice using daily text messages. Standardized mean differences with 95% and 75% confidence intervals were calculated for the change observed in each intervention from baseline to 3 and 12 weeks post-baseline to determine the range of effect sizes likely to be observed in a definitive trial. 71 clergy participated in an intervention. The daily percentage of participants engaging in stress management practices ranged from 47% (MBSR) to 69% (Examen). Results suggest that participation in Daily Examen, stress inoculation, or MBSR interventions could plausibly result in improvement in stress and anxiety at 12 weeks with small-to-large effect sizes. Small effect sizes on change in HRV were plausible for MBSR and Centering Prayer from baseline to 12 weeks. All four interventions were feasible and acceptable, although Centering Prayer had lower enrollment and mixed results.
... The latter also contributing feeling 'overwhelmed' 14 . Feelings of being 'overwhelmed' and 'anxious' are symptoms of stress 15 and CSOTs who are exposed to uncontrolled stress in the workplace over a long period may experience burnout 16 . ...
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BACKGROUND: Community service occupational therapists may be especially vulnerable to experiencing burnout. This study sought to determine the levels of burnout experienced by this population and to investigate the relationship between reported burnout and various contextual, personal, and demographic factors METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used. The online questionnaire included contextual information of the participants and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data were analysed using Statistica 13.5. The effect of contextual, personal and demographic variables on burnout was tested using Kruskal-Wallis tests RESULTS: All community service occupational therapists were invited to participate in the study. A response rate of 31.92% was achieved (n=75). High levels of emotional exhaustion were reported by 55% (n=41) of participants. 'Strong' and 'adequate' support systems were associated to a greater sense of personal accomplishment (p=0.02) and 'minimal' social support was associated to increased emotional exhaustion (p=0.01). Dissatisfaction with supervision was associated to increased emotional exhaustion (p=0.017). Job satisfaction was associated to a greater sense of personal accomplishment (p=0.0002). Job dissatisfaction was associated to depersonalisation (p=0.047) and emotional exhaustion (p=0.006 CONCLUSION: Support systems, supervision and job satisfaction showed significant association to burnout. Interventions to address these factors, and research that further investigates the impact of contextual factors on burnout is recommended. This is imperative if South African occupational therapy is to take seriously its responsibility to the therapists responsible for taking services to populations with the greatest health needs Implications for practice • Opportunities for occupational therapists to develop professional resilience to prevent burnout should be offered across the lifelong learning continuum. • Strengthening supervision capacity and implementing mentoring and supervision strategies that provide mutual reward for both parties are needed. • The responsibility for promoting the vitality and job satisfaction of COSTs should be taken seriously by the Department of Health as C
Article
Background: Orthopedic surgery can trigger anxiety that negatively impacts patient experience and recovery. Purpose: This pilot study investigated if a compassionate interaction combined with standardized mind-body techniques could reduce patient anxiety levels during the initial postoperative phase for patients undergoing a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Participants were 36 postsurgical hospital inpatients guided through a 10-minute mind-body breathing and visualization intervention on post-op day zero (POD 0) and on post-op day one (POD 1). Quantitative data included before and after Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) reports, heart rate values, and pulse oximetry readings. Results: Significant decreases in VAS-A and heart rate values as well as increases in pulse oximetry values were demonstrated on both POD 0 and POD 1. Conclusion: These results indicate that a brief mind-body intervention can reduce reported anxiety levels and induce physiologic benefits for hospitalized patients post-TKA and suggest the possibility that such interventions could reduce anxiety in a broader patient population.
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Schlaf und Schlafprobleme sind in vielen Familien Thema: kindliches Schlafverhalten, Einschlafzeiten, Umgang mit Wachphasen oder der Mittagsschlaf – Unsicherheiten sind groß und Anlass für besorgte Fragen. Eltern, aber auch Pflegende müssen die Bedürfnisse eines Kindes erkennen und adäquat darauf reagieren können: Schlaf ist gerade für Kinder essenziell und eine wichtige Entwicklungsaufgabe. Um für guten Schlaf zu sorgen, Heranwachsende und Eltern dahingehend zu beraten und die Genesung im Krankenhaus zu fördern, sind die Kenntnis und Beachtung des Schlafs, seiner physiologischen Abläufe und seiner Entwicklung unabdingbar.
Chapter
Emerging adulthood is a stage within the developmental cycle in which teenagers transition into young adults. This phase of life comes with numerous changes, exciting experiences, and a variety of stressors. Navigating emerging adulthood can prove difficult for many individuals as they begin to explore their identities, pursue post-secondary endeavors, and engage in a variety of personal and professional relationships. While a healthy amount of stress is to be expected, there are also potential risk factors that could lead to increased levels of stress. Identifying coping strategies, evidence-based resources, and ways to connect emerging adults to stress management tools is important to understanding how to best serve this specific population.
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Chapter
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Chapter
Behavior therapy is the predecessor to cognitive-behavioral therapy, grounded in learning theory and scientific principles. Behavioral strategies are at the core of many effective, empirically validated treatments for psychiatric disorders. The following chapter describes several key behavioral strategies in detail and illustrates their use via clinical vignettes.KeywordsBehavior therapyBehavioral activationExposure and response preventionSkills trainingRelaxation strategies
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Aims: To assess a group-based cognitive behaviour therapy [CBT] program in diabetes. Methods: Sixty people with diabetes were randomly allocated to either immediate (29) or 3 months delayed (31) CBT groups. Results: DASS scores were reduced by 0.37 standardised [effect-size] units [P < 0.01], with a tendency for more marked reductions in anxiety and stress [0.60] among those for whom treatment had been delayed whose HbA1C fell by 0.93% . ADDQoL scores also improved in the short-term but these changes did not persist at 6 months. Conclusions: The CBT program led to short-term improvements in anxiety, depression, stress and quality of life.
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A six session protocol of a brief and novel exposure therapy, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) has been efficacious in reducing PTSD and co-occurring psychological symptoms in a within-subjects time series trial. The current study uses a randomized design and a wait list control group (n=13). Experimental group subjects (n=19) received six hour-long EFT coaching sessions, with pretest and posttest evaluations, as well as intermediate tests after three sessions. PTSD was assessed using the PCL-M (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Military), on which the lowest possible score is 17, and a score of 50+ is clinical. The severity and breadth of psychological distress was measured using the SA-45 (Symptom Assessment 45), a short form of the SCL-90. Neither symptoms nor PTSD scores declined in the wait list during the passage of time. The breadth of psychological distress diminished highly significantly in the EFT group, as did the severity (both p
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Internet-administered cognitive behavior therapy is a promising new way to deliver psychological treatment. There are an increasing number of controlled trials in various fields such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders and health conditions such as headache and insomnia. Among the advantages for the field of cognitive behavior therapy is the dissemination of the treatment, being able to access treatment from a distance, and possibilities to tailor the interventions. To date, studies in which large effects have been obtained have included patient support from a clinician. Recent trials suggest that this support may come from non-clinicians and that therapist effects are minimal. Since studies also suggest that internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy can be equally effective as face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy, this is a finding that may have implications for CBT practitioners. However, there are other aspects to consider for implementation, as while clinicians may hold positive attitudes towards internet-delivered CBT a recent study suggested that patients are more skeptical and may prefer face-to-face treatment. In the present work, I argue that internet-delivered CBT may help to increase adherence to treatment protocols, that training can be facilitated by means of internet support, and that research on internet interventions can lead to new insights regarding what happens in regular CBT. Moreover, I conclude that internet-delivered CBT works best when support is provided, leaving an important role for clinicians who can incorporate internet treatment in their services. However, I also warn against disseminating internet-delivered CBT to patients for whom it is not suitable, and that clinical skills may suffer if clinicians are trained and practice mainly using the internet.
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Depression is a significant problem in patients with heart failure (HF). This article examines the evidence for the use of cognitive therapy (CT) in treating depression and depressive symptoms in patients with HF and cardiovascular related illnesses. In 8 of the 14 studies reviewed, researchers found that CT reduced depressive symptoms; however, the limitations of the studies prevent wide generalization of the results. Evidence to support the use of CT for the treatment of depressive symptoms in patients with cardiovascular illness is insufficient at this time. Large randomized controlled trials that demonstrate the efficacy of CT are needed before clinicians routinely refer patients with HF to CT for the purpose of improving depression or depressive symptoms.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a MBSR program on physiological and psychological outcomes among early-stage breast cancer survivors. A quasi-experimental, pre-and posttest control group design was selected. The intervention group received the MBSR intervention. The control group received no MBSR intervention. ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to analyze data. The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvement in physiological and psychological outcomes including reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate and increased mindfulness state at the level of p = .05 to p = .001. The effects of MBSR on reducing stress in this sample were statistically significant on the physiological outcome (morning cortisol) at the measurement after the intervention completion, but this effect was not sustained at 1-month follow-up. MBSR showed a trend toward improving psychological outcomes by reducing mood disturbance in this sample.
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Numerous studies have found Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to be useful for a wide range of problems including anxiety, pain and coping with a medical illness. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week MBSR programme in relieving distress in a community based sample. Subjects (n = 14) were participants in the MBSR programme at a major academic medical center and completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) prior to starting the class and at the end of the 8-week course. Means and standard deviations were computed for the pre-and post-POMS total and subscale measures and the MAAS. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was conducted. There were significant reductions on multiple dimensions of distress on the POMS as well as a significant increase in mindful awareness as measured by the MAAS. These results suggest that MBSR appears to be associated with a reduction of distress and increased awareness of everyday life experiences in a sample of residents living in a large urban community. 
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Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a structured group program that uses mindfulness meditation to improve well-being and alleviate suffering. This article reviews the impact of MBSR for people with chronic diseases. The review includes original research that was published in English and peer-reviewed and reported outcomes for adults with chronic diseases who had participated in an MBSR program. Fifteen studies were identified. Outcomes related to mental and physical health, well-being, and quality of life. The studies included different research designs, and used self-report and physiological outcome measures. Participants' clinical diagnoses included fibromyalgia, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and cardiovascular diagnoses. All 15 studies found that participation in an MBSR program resulted in improvements. No negative change was reported between baseline and follow up. Outcomes in regard to specific variables were difficult to compare and equivocal. Overall, positive change predominated. Chronic diseases are associated with a range of unwelcome psychological and physical consequences. Participation in an MBSR program is likely to result in coping better with symptoms, improved overall well-being and quality of life, and enhanced health outcomes. As an adjunct to standard care, MBSR has potential for much wider application in Australian primary care settings.
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To quantify the available evidence for the hypothesis that reduced resistance caused by psychological stress may influence the development of clinical disease in those exposed to an infectious agent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 prospective studies examining the association between psychological stress and subsequent upper respiratory infection (URI). The results revealed a significant overall main effect of psychological stress on the risk of developing URI (effect size correlation coefficient, 0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.27). Further analyses showed that effect sizes for the association did not vary according to type of stress, how URI was assessed, or whether the studies had controlled for preexposure. The meta-analytical findings confirmed the hypothesis that psychological stress is associated with increased susceptibility to URI, lending support to an emerging appreciation of the potential importance of psychological factors in infectious disease.
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Although long-term meditation has been found to reduce negative mood and cardiovascular variables, the effects of a brief mindfulness meditation intervention when compared to a sham mindfulness meditation intervention are relatively unknown. This experiment examined whether a 3-day (1-hour total) mindfulness or sham mindfulness meditation intervention would improve mood and cardiovascular variables when compared to a control group. Eighty-two (82) undergraduate students (34 males, 48 females), with no prior meditation experience, participated in three sessions that involved training in either mindfulness meditation, sham mindfulness meditation, or a control group. Heart rate, blood pressure, and psychologic variables (Profile of Mood States, State Anxiety Inventory) were assessed before and after the intervention. The meditation intervention was more effective at reducing negative mood, depression, fatigue, confusion, and heart rate, when compared to the sham and control groups. These results indicate that brief meditation training has beneficial effects on mood and cardiovascular variables that go beyond the demand characteristics of a sham meditation intervention.
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In Brief Diabetes poses a major life stress that requires considerable physical, emotional, and psychological accommodation and coping. Mind-body therapies have drawn significant interest for their potential to assist in managing stress and adaptation to chronic illness. This review highlights the literature and research on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to improve the health and well-being of individuals with diabetes.
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Depression and anxiety are associated with increased risk of postoperative cardiac events and death in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These risks persist even several months after the procedure. Guided imagery has been used with cardiac surgery patients for some time and with numerous anecdotal reports of considerable benefit. In addition, this therapy is low-cost and easy to implement, and the literature holds ample evidence for its efficacy in symptom reduction in various patient populations. It was thus hypothesized that preoperative use of guided imagery would reduce postoperative distress in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. Fifty-six patients scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass graft at Columbia University Medical Center were randomized into 3 groups: guided imagery, music therapy, and standard care control. Patients in the imagery and music groups listened to audiotapes preoperatively and intraoperatively. All patients completed psychological, complementary medicine therapies use, and other assessments preoperatively and at 1 week and 6 months postoperatively. Only preoperative distress was predictive of postoperative distress at follow-up. Use of complementary medicine therapies was high in all groups and this fact, in addition to the small sample size, may have accounted for the lack of significant relationship between imagery and postoperative distress. Regardless, this complementary and alternative medicine therapy remains palatable to patients. Given its efficacy in other patient populations, it is worth exploring its potential utility for this population with a larger sample.
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In this study, the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was applied to patients presenting with depression and anxiety after surgery from spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the effects were assessed. The subjects were patients admitted for cerebral aneurysm rupture and treated by means of surgery from March to December, 2007. More than 6 months had passed after surgery, without any special lesions showing up on computed tomography (CT), and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was 5 points. Among patients with anxiety and depression symptoms, 11 patients completed the program. The MBSR program was conducted once a week, 2.5 hours each, for 8 weeks. The evaluation criteria were : 1) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): it measures the type and level of depression, 2) the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory : the anxiety state of normal adults without mental disorder, and 3) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) : the influence of the autonomous nervous system on the sinoarterial node varies continuously in response to the change of the internal/external environment. The BDI value was decreased from 18.5 +/- 10.9 to 9.5 +/- 7.1 (p = 0.013) : it was statistically significant, and the depression level of patients was lowered. The state anxiety was decreased from 51.3 +/- 13.9 to 42.3 +/- 15.2; the trait anxiety was reduced from 50.9 +/- 12.3 to 41.3 +/- 12.8, and a borderline significant difference was shown (p = 0.091, p = 0.056). In other words, after the treatment, although it was not statistically significant, a decreased tendency in anxiety was shown. In the HRV measurement, standard deviation normal to normal (SDNN), square root of the square root of the mean sum of squared differences between adjacent normal to normal intervals (RMSSD), and total power (TP) showed significant increase, Physical Stress Index (PSI) showed a significant reduction, and thus an improvement in the homeostatic control mechanism of the autonomic nervous system was ween. The MBSR program was applied to the patients showing anxiety and depression reaction after SAH treatment, and a reduction in depression symptoms and physiological reactions were observed. The application of the MBSR program may be considered as a new tool in improving the quality of life for patients after surgery.
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The objective of this study was to describe possible changes in physical and psychologic symptoms among outpatients completing a 12-week mind-body medical symptom reduction program related to chronic medical conditions. The cornerstone of the program is elicitation of the relaxation response, and the curriculum also incorporates trainings on mind-body interactions, cognitive restructuring, nutrition, and physical activity. The Medical Symptom Checklist (MSCL), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) and Symptom Checklist-90R (SCL-90-R) were used to assess 331 patients' physical and psychologic symptoms before and after the intervention. Significant post-treatment improvements in symptom frequency occurred for 12 individual symptoms on the MSCL, all 6 of the HPLP-II subscales, and 8 of the 9 SCL-90-R subscales from pre- to post-treatment. The results from this uncontrolled study suggest that a comprehensive mind-body intervention program might be useful as a complementary or adjunct therapy for treatment of chronic medical symptoms.
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This paper proposes a third meditation-category--automatic self-transcending--to extend the dichotomy of focused attention and open monitoring proposed by Lutz. Automatic self-transcending includes techniques designed to transcend their own activity. This contrasts with focused attention, which keeps attention focused on an object; and open monitoring, which keeps attention involved in the monitoring process. Each category was assigned EEG bands, based on reported brain patterns during mental tasks, and meditations were categorized based on their reported EEG. Focused attention, characterized by beta/gamma activity, included meditations from Tibetan Buddhist, Buddhist, and Chinese traditions. Open monitoring, characterized by theta activity, included meditations from Buddhist, Chinese, and Vedic traditions. Automatic self-transcending, characterized by alpha1 activity, included meditations from Vedic and Chinese traditions. Between categories, the included meditations differed in focus, subject/object relation, and procedures. These findings shed light on the common mistake of averaging meditations together to determine mechanisms or clinical effects.
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OBJECTIVE: To briefly review the effects of mindfulness on the mind, the brain, the body, and behavior. METHODS: Selective review of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases (2003-2008) using the terms "mindfulness", "meditation", "mental health", "physical health", "quality of life", and "stress reduction." A total of 52 exemplars of empirical and theoretical work were selected for review. RESULTS: Both basic and clinical research indicate that cultivating a more mindful way of being is associated with less emotional distress, more positive states of mind, and better quality of life. In addition, mindfulness practice can influence the brain, the autonomic nervous system, stress hormones, the immune system, and health behaviors, including eating, sleeping and substance use, in salutary ways. CONCLUSION: The application of cutting-edge technology toward understanding mindfulness - an "inner technology" - is elucidating new ways in which attention, awareness, acceptance, and compassion may promote optimal health - in mind, body, relationships, and spirit.
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Psychological distress contributes to the development of hypertension in young adults. This trial assessed the effects of a mind-body intervention on blood pressure (BP), psychological distress, and coping in college students. This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 298 university students randomly allocated to either the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program or wait-list control. At baseline and after 3 months, BP, psychological distress, and coping ability were assessed. A subgroup of 159 subjects at risk for hypertension was analyzed similarly. Changes in systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) for the overall sample were -2.0/-1.2 mm Hg for the TM group compared to +0.4/+0.5 mm Hg for controls (P = 0.15, P = 0.15, respectively). Changes in SBP/DBP for the hypertension risk subgroup were -5.0/-2.8 mm Hg for the TM group compared to +1.3/+1.2 mm Hg for controls (P = 0.014, P = 0.028, respectively). Significant improvements were found in total psychological distress, anxiety, depression, anger/hostility, and coping (P values < 0.05). Changes in psychological distress and coping correlated with changes in SBP (P values < 0.05) and DBP (P values < 0.08). This is the first RCT to demonstrate that a selected mind-body intervention, the TM program, decreased BP in association with decreased psychological distress, and increased coping in young adults at risk for hypertension. This mind-body program may reduce the risk for future development of hypertension in young adults.
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Evidences suggest that relaxation therapy may improve psychological outcomes in heart patients. We evaluated the effect of progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) training in decreasing anxiety and improving quality of life among anxious patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). This study was an open uncontrolled trial. The sample included 110 anxious patients referred to the cardiac rehabilitation clinic of Tehran Heart Center, Tehran, Iran, during six weeks after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Patients were allocated to receive both exercise training and lifestyle education plus relaxation therapy (relaxation group; n=55) or only exercise training beside lifestyle education (control group or the recipient of usual care group; n=55). Duration of the relaxation therapy was 6 wk and in the case of usual care was 8 wk. Both the groups were followed up one month after completion of intervention. Anxiety and quality of life in the two treatment groups were compared. There were no significant differences in overall QOL, state anxiety and trait anxiety scores between the two groups before intervention. Significant reductions in state anxiety (P<0.01) and trait anxiety (P<0.01) levels were observed in relaxation group after intervention compared to control group. Women had high state anxiety and a low quality of life than men in the two groups before intervention. After intervention, there was no difference between men and women in the relaxation group. Our findings show that progressive muscular relaxation training may be an effective therapy for improving psychological health and quality of life in anxious heart patients.
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PURPOSE: High dental anxiety is pervasive and associated with treatment avoidance and poor oral health. Ideally, anxiety reduction techniques should be easy to use, low in cost, non-pharmacological, comfortable, and effective. This study compared the effectiveness of two self-taught anxiety reduction techniques--breathing and focused attention--with a control group. METHODS: Anxiety was assessed in 272 adult private dental practice patients with a modified dental anxiety scale-revised. Frequency of oral health care visits in the last 10 years to all dentists, including the current dentist, was collected. Immediately prior to the dental procedure, participants in the two experimental groups were given written instructions outlining the respective anxiety reduction technique they were to use. Efficacy of technique was assessed by subjective comparison to anxiety during previous oral health treatment. Participants also listed techniques that they believed to be effective for anxiety reduction. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants (9.56%) scored high in dental anxiety. High anxiety was associated with infrequent oral health care visits. Compared to the recall of anxiety experienced during prior treatment, there were no significant differences in anxiety between breathing, focusing, and control groups. But there was a trend toward decreased anxiety overall. Controls who reported infrequent visits and use of their own anxiety reduction technique showed significantly reduced anxiety. CONCLUSION: Dental patients employ numerous strategies for anxiety reduction. Anxiety reduction techniques not yet practiced may place unwanted expectations on patients. It is suggested that oral health care practitioners be aware of the patient's preferred technique for coping with anxiety and encourage them to use self-help techniques.
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A study into the use of pre-packaged compact discs (CDs) which incorporate Guided Imagery (GI) with suggestions and affirmations, indicates that the use of these CDs results in quick reduction of stress-related issues for all participants. Notable improvements were identified in general feelings of well-being (91% of participants), positive thoughts (82%) and ability to cope in stressful situations (73%). Decreases in incidence ratings were greatest for insomnia, anger and negative thoughts. Most commonly the first benefits people noticed were increased relaxation, decreased negative thoughts, and decreased stress. Despite the effectiveness of the CDs, improvements tended to be short-lived due to diminishing use of CDs (and relaxation techniques) over time. There was no long term commitment to the regular practice of the relaxation technique. Rather participants apparently sought speedy issue resolution from the CDs. Consequently not all improvements endured, with some participants needing to revisit the CDs each time symptoms returned.
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Our understanding of trauma is expanding as clinical vignettes gradually flesh out the bones of the DSM-IV’s narrow definition [1]. Threat of loss of life is central to all definitions of trauma and is a pivotal element to the experience of cardiac events such as myocardial infarctions (MI) in coronary heart disease (CHD). The threat of loss is not only experienced by patients but is also vividly and vigilantly lived by the partners who watch and wait in waiting rooms and by bedsides hanging onto the every heartbeat of the person with whom they share their life and love. The majority of patients who suffer myocardial infarctions are married men under the age of 70 [2].CHD is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, with 14 million people living with CHD and 1.5 million new MIs each year [3].
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The metabolic syndrome is likely to develop in patients in whom genetic predisposition, chronic stress, negative emotion, and unhealthy lifestyle habits converge. In light of the psychophysiologic aspect of most of these factors, biofeedback, relaxation, and other psychophysiologic interventions have been studied and used in patients with elements of the metabolic syndrome, particularly diabetes and hypertension. This article reviews the rationale and evidence for biofeedback for the treatment of diabetes and hypertension, which has been shown to effectively lower blood glucose and blood pressure in numerous studies. Patients with prehypertension may be a particularly appropriate target population for biofeedback for blood pressure reduction. Further research is needed to guide identification of the best candidates for psychophysiologic intervention for these conditions, although patient readiness for change is a clear prerequisite.
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Mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) is an 8‐week training that is designed to teach participants mindful awareness of the present moment. In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), MBSR has demonstrated efficacy in various conditions including reducing chronic pain‐related distress and improving quality of life in healthy individuals. There have, however, been no qualitative studies investigating participants' descriptions of changes experienced over multiple time points during the course of the programme. This qualitative study of an MBSR cohort (N = 8 healthy individuals) in a larger RCT examined participants' daily diary descriptions of their home‐practice experiences. The study used a two‐part method, combining grounded theory with a close‐ended coding approach. The grounded theory analysis revealed that during the trial, all participants, to varying degrees, described moments of distress related to practice; at the end of the course, all participants who completed the training demonstrated greater detail and clarity in their descriptions, improved affect, and the emergence of an observing self. The closed‐ended coding schema, carried out to shed light on the development of an observing self, revealed that the emergence of an observing self was not related to the valence of participants' experiential descriptions: even participants whose diaries contained predominantly negative characterizations of their experience throughout the trial were able, by the end of the trial, to demonstrate an observing, witnessing attitude towards their own distress. Progress in MBSR may rely less on the valence of participants' experiences and more on the way participants describe and relate to their own inner experience. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: This article • Analyses the ways in which participants in a mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) clinical trial describe their experiences with mindfulness practice. • Carries out qualitative analysis of the ways in which participants' descriptions of home‐based meditation practice contained in their practice diaries change over the course of an 8‐week MBSR trial. • Demonstrates that the participants who successfully completed the 8‐week course show a common developmental trajectory, as each participant used less reactive, judgemental language to describe their home meditative practice‐based experiences by the end of the trial, even when, in the case of some participants, that experience was perceived as negative or distressing. • Suggests that progress in MBSR may rely less on the valence of participants' experience and more on the way participants describe and relate to their own inner experience.
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We determined the effect of baseline psychological stress and norepinephrine (NE) levels in the follicular fluid on the outcome of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). One hundred seven women with tubal factor infertility were evaluated before and during their first IVF treatment. On the first day of down-regulation, their psychological state was measured using the Zung Self-rating Anxiety (SAS) and Depression Scales (SDS), and defined as baseline psychological stress. On oocyte retrieval day, NE levels in the follicular fluid and peripheral plasma were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. On the first day of down-regulation, nearly 10% of the women with tubal factor infertility reported that they were experiencing both anxiety and depression. This baseline psychological stress was lower in pregnant (3.7%) than in non-pregnant women (15.7%, p<0.05). On oocyte retrieval day, the NE levels in follicular fluid were almost twice the amount seen in peripheral plasma, but did not differ in pregnant and non-pregnant women (p>0.05). NE levels in follicular fluid were negatively associated with the percentage of good quality embryos (r= -0.62, p<0.05). Baseline psychological stress (both anxiety and depression) may negatively influence the clinical pregnancy rate of IVF treatment in women with tubal factor infertility. Furthermore, follicular NE levels are negatively associated with the percentage of good quality embryos.
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Numerous clinical trials have supported the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Accordingly, CBT has been formally recognized as an empirically supported treatment for anxiety-related conditions. This article reviews the evidence supporting the efficacy of CBT for anxiety disorders. Specifically, contemporary meta-analytic studies on the treatment of anxiety disorders are reviewed and the efficacy of CBT is examined. Although the specific components of CBT differ depending on the study design and the anxiety disorder treated, meta-analyses suggest that CBT procedures (particularly exposure-based approaches) are highly efficacious. CBT generally outperforms wait-list and placebo controls. Thus, CBT provides incremental efficacy above and beyond nonspecific factors. For some anxiety disorders, CBT also tends to outperform other psychosocial treatment modalities. The implications of available meta-analytic findings in further delineating the efficacy and dissemination of CBT for anxiety disorders are discussed.
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There is increasing recognition of mindfulness and mindfulness training as a way to decrease stress and increase psychological functioning. The aim of this study was to examine the perceived effects and experiences of mindfulness stress-reduction training as described by patients with cancer partici