A controlled comparison of thermal biofeedback and relaxation training in the treatment of essential hypertension: I. Short-term and long-term outcome

Authors

• Edward B. Blanchard, State University of New York Albany
• Guy C. McCoy, State University of New York Albany
• Alison Musso, State University of New York Albany
• Maryrose A. Gerardi, State University of New York Albany
• Thomas P. Pallmeyer, State University of New York Albany
• Robert J. Gerardi, State University of New York Albany
• Patricia A. Cotch, State University of New York Albany
• Karen Siracusa, State University of New York Albany
• Frank Andrasik, State University of New York Albany

Abstract

Eighty-seven patients whose blood pressures (BPs) were controlled on a regimen of at least two antihypertensive medications were randomly assigned to either thermal biofeedback or progressive relaxation to see if patients could be withdrawn from the second-stage antihypertensive medication while BPs remained under control. Results on this clinical end point significantly favored thermal biofeedback both in the short-term (1-month posttreatment) and in the long-term (1-year posttreatment) with 35% of those patients who were initially assigned to thermal biofeedback and completed treatment remaining off the second-stage medication for over 12 months. © 1986 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Behavior Therapy

Recommended Citation

Blanchard, E., McCoy, G., Musso, A., Gerardi, M., Pallmeyer, T., Gerardi, R., Cotch, P., Siracusa, K., & Andrasik, F. (1986). A controlled comparison of thermal biofeedback and relaxation training in the treatment of essential hypertension: I. Short-term and long-term outcome. Behavior Therapy, 17 (5), 563-579. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(86)80095-8