Effects of Biobehaviorally Assisted Relaxation Training on Blood Pressure and Hormone Levels and Their Variation in Normotensives and Essential Hypertensives

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the effect of two re1axation-based treatment modal ities, biofeedback-assisted (BF) relaxation and restricted environmenta1stimulationtherapy(REST)ontheabsolute1eve1sandthe variation of blood pressure, cortisol, aldosterone and plasma renin activity in 18 hypertensives and 13 normotensives. Sixty-seven percent of both hypertensive groups achieved cl inically significant blood pressure reductions across treatment. Decreases were also observed in the average level s of each hormone in all subgroups except normotensive BF. In some individuals the blood pressure changes were not associated with changes in hormone levels. Variation, reported as standard deviation, decreased across treatment for blood pressure, cortisol and aldosterone in both hypertensive and normotensi ve REST subgroups. The BF subgroups showed no consi stent changes. These results are di scussed in the context of adrenocort i cal activity, volume regulation of blood pressure and cybernetic theory.