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Brandão T, Martins I, Torres A, Remondes-Costa S. Effect of online Kundalini Yoga mental health of university students during Covid-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. J Health Psychol 2024; 29:567-580. [PMID: 38230561 DOI: 10.1177/13591053231220710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
University students were at an increased risk for psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a randomized controlled trial, we examined the efficacy of an online Kundalini Yoga intervention on students' psychological functioning. Healthy university students (N = 106) were randomly assigned to a Kundalini Yoga group, an active control group, or a passive control group in a 1:1:1 ratio. The experimental group attended six Yoga sessions over 6 weeks and the active control group attended to six autogenic relaxation sessions over 6 weeks. All participants completed the study protocol, which involved answering questionnaires related to psychological distress, emotion regulation, self-compassion, self-concept, spiritual well-being, and subjective happiness at three different time points: baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. Results showed that Yoga contributed to improving self-compassion, extrinsic affect improving, and personal and communal spiritual well-being, in comparison to the control groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Brandão
- William James Center for Research Ispa-Instituto Universitário, Portugal
| | - Inês Martins
- Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Escola de Ciências Humanas e Socias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
| | - Ana Torres
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research of the Health Research Network (CINTESIS@RISE), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sónia Remondes-Costa
- Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Escola de Ciências Humanas e Socias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
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Lehmann H, Otte N, Kraus T, Esser A, Krabbe J. Evaluation and Comparison of Relaxation-Related Workplace Interventions Among Office Workers at an Insurance Institution: An Intervention Study. Inquiry 2024; 61:469580241242793. [PMID: 38591360 PMCID: PMC11005502 DOI: 10.1177/00469580241242793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Relaxation-related workplace interventions can be counterstrategies for stress due to office work and should be evaluated for success after implementation. This study reports on the evaluation and comparison of 3 relaxation techniques introduced as an intervention for health promotion. A Germany-wide multicenter evaluation of a 3-month relaxation intervention (30 min, once a week) including autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) or Tai Chi was conducted at 14 locations as an intervention study. Anonymous questionnaires (n = 244) were used to collect self-reports of perceived stress after the courses. Status before the courses (pre) and after completion (post) were reported at the end of the intervention. All 3 relaxation techniques were able to improve the subjective perception of stress (SPS) score. Autogenic training was reported to improve all singular items with large effects, whereas only 2 items showed change for Tai Chi and none for PMR. Singular items were also influenced by the location of the courses. All 3 methods were able to improve stress-related outcomes in terms of stress perception and individual aspects of stress management. For this specific intervention autogenic training yielded the largest and wide-ranging effects. Tai Chi was also effective, but additional effect due to an associated increase in physical activity were not found. For a workplace intervention PMR could not be recommended based on this study. The literature on workplace interventions is surprisingly scarce, and future studies should focus on the selection of appropriate participants while avoiding potential bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Lehmann
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Energy, Textile, Electrical and Media Products Sectors (BG ETEM), Köln, Germany
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Breznoscakova D, Kovanicova M, Sedlakova E, Pallayova M. Autogenic Training in Mental Disorders: What Can We Expect? Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:4344. [PMID: 36901353 PMCID: PMC10001593 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Autogenic training (AT) is a well-established self-induced relaxation technique based on autosuggestion. From the past two decades, an increasing number of AT studies strongly suggests the practical usefulness of psychophysiological relaxation in the area of medicine. Despite this interest, to date, limited critical clinical reflection on the application and effects of AT in mental disorders exists. The present paper reviews psychophysiological, psychopathological, and clinical aspects of AT in persons with mental disorders with emphasis on implications for future research and practice. Based on a formal literature search, 29 reported studies (7 meta-analyses/systematic reviews) were identified that examined the effects and impact of AT on mental disorders. The main psychophysiological effects of AT include autonomic cardiorespiratory changes paralleled by central nervous system activity modifications and psychological outputs. Studies demonstrate consistent efficacy of AT in reducing anxiety and medium range positive effects for mild-to-moderate depression. The impact on bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, and acute stress disorder remains unexplored. As an add-on intervention psychotherapy technique with beneficial outcome on psychophysiological functioning, AT represents a promising avenue towards expanding research findings of brain-body links beyond the current limits of the prevention and clinical management of number of mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Breznoscakova
- Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
- Center for Mental Functions, Crystal Comfort, LLC, M. R. Stefanika 2427, 093 01 Vranov nad Toplou, Slovakia
| | - Milana Kovanicova
- 2nd Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Louis Pasteur, Rastislavova 43, 041 90 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Eva Sedlakova
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Maria Pallayova
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
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Litwic-Kaminska K, Kotyśko M, Pracki T, Wiłkość-Dębczyńska M, Stankiewicz B. The Effect of Autogenic Training in a Form of Audio Recording on Sleep Quality and Physiological Stress Reactions of University Athletes-Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:16043. [PMID: 36498114 PMCID: PMC9737934 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the growing popularity of relaxation training, the effectiveness of an autogenic training (AT) as a method of dealing with sleep problems in group of student athletes is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap. University athletes with decreased sleep quality (selected from 209 participants) were randomly assigned to the experimental (EG, n = 11) and control (CG, n = 11) groups similar in terms of sleep quality, age, gender, type of sport discipline and sport experience. During the 14 days dedicated to performing relaxation training in the form of an audio recording, electronic daily logs and actigraphy were used to monitor the athletes' sleep and daily activity. The EG listened to the recording with suggestions based on AT and CG only to the background music. Pre- and post-measurements of sleep quality by means of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and physiological stress reactions by biofeedback device were performed. In EG and CG, the parameters of sleep and daily activity obtained by actigraphy and daily logs as well as physiological indicators of emotional reactivity did not differ. Sleep quality in PSQI significantly increased after AT usage in EG. AT seems to be an effective method for university athletes in improving subjective sleep quality, but further studies are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martyna Kotyśko
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Development and Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Tadeusz Pracki
- Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | | | - Błażej Stankiewicz
- Institute of Physical Culture, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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Kneebone II, Van Zanden BE, Dorstyn DS, Roberts RM, Lord SR, Querstret D, Theadom A, Kennedy DS, Raman J, Nair RD. Relaxation and related therapies for people with multiple sclerosis (MS): A systematic review. Clin Rehabil 2022; 36:883-899. [PMID: 35410503 DOI: 10.1177/02692155221091509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To establish the effectiveness of relaxation and related therapies in treating Multiple Sclerosis related symptoms and sequelae. DATA SOURCES PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global databases were searched. METHODS We included studies from database inception until 31 December 2021 involving adult participants diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or disseminated sclerosis, which featured quantitative data regarding the impact of relaxation interventions on multiple sclerosis-related symptoms and sequelae. Studies which examined multi-modal therapies - relaxation delivered in combination with non-relaxation interventions - were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Risk of Bias tool for randomised trials - ROB2, Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions ROBINS-I), and within and between-group effects were calculated (Hedges' g). RESULTS Twenty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-three of these were randomised controlled trials, with 1246 total participants. This review reports on this data, with non-randomised study data reported in supplemental material. Post -intervention relaxation was associated with medium to large effect-size improvement for depression, anxiety, stress and fatigue. The effects of relaxation were superior to wait-list or no treatment control conditions; however, comparisons with established psychological or physical therapies were mixed. Individual studies reported sustained effects (≤ 6 months) with relaxation for stress, pain and quality of life. Most studies were rated as having a high/serious risk of bias. CONCLUSION There is emerging evidence that relaxation therapies can improve outcomes for persons with multiple sclerosis. Given the high risk of bias found for included studies, stronger conclusions cannot be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian I Kneebone
- Graduate School of Health, 1994University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Diana S Dorstyn
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rachel M Roberts
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stephen R Lord
- Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dawn Querstret
- Faculty of Health, Sport and Applied Science, St Mary's University, UK
| | - Alice Theadom
- Department of Psychology, School of Clinical Sciences, 1410Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
| | - David S Kennedy
- Graduate School of Health, 1994University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Jay Raman
- Graduate School of Health, 1994University of Technology Sydney, Australia.,School of Psychological Sciences, 5982University of Newcastle, Australia
| | - Roshan das Nair
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, 6123University of Nottingham, UK
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Ramirez-Garcia MP, Leclerc-Loiselle J, Gagnon MP, Côté J, Brouillette MJ, Thomas R. A mixed-method randomized feasibility trial evaluating progressive muscle relaxation or autogenic training on depressive symptoms and quality of life in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have depressive symptoms. J Complement Integr Med 2020; 18:165-174. [PMID: 32621729 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2019-0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and autogenic training (AT) are effective relaxation techniques to reduce depressive symptoms. However, no studies on their effectiveness have been conducted among people living with HIV and depressive symptoms. The primary aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PMR and AT interventions among people living with HIV who have depressive symptoms. A secondary aim was to assess the potential effectiveness of these interventions on depressive symptoms and quality of life. METHODS This study was a three-arm pilot randomized control trial with mixed methods. Participants were randomized to PMR, AT, or a control group (CG), with four assessments (baseline, and at one, three, and six months). The PMR and AT interventions consisted of six 1 h sessions of individual training over 12 weeks, plus home practice. Recruitment, attrition, and completion rates were calculated. Depressive symptoms and quality of life were assessed at all times. Participants' perceptions of the interventions were collected in semi-structured interviews. RESULTS Following the screening, 54/63 people met the inclusion criteria, and 42/54 were randomly allocated to the PMR group (n=14), AT group (n=14), and CG (n=14). Six participants (43%; 95% CI 18-71%) in the PMR group and 10 (71%; 95% CI 42-92%) in the AT group completed the intervention. Participants reported better emotion management and improvements in depressive symptoms and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS The pilot study suggests that a randomized trial to test the effectiveness of these interventions is feasible. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01901016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pilar Ramirez-Garcia
- Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Research Center of the Centre Hospitalier de l', Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Quebec Nursing Intervention Research Network (RRISIQ), Quebec, Canada
| | - Jérôme Leclerc-Loiselle
- Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Pierre Gagnon
- Quebec Nursing Intervention Research Network (RRISIQ), Quebec, Canada.,Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de l'Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - José Côté
- Quebec Nursing Intervention Research Network (RRISIQ), Quebec, Canada.,Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Centre de recherche du CHUM, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Brouillette
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,AIDS and Infectious Disease Network (SIDA-MI), Quebec, Canada
| | - Réjean Thomas
- AIDS and Infectious Disease Network (SIDA-MI), Quebec, Canada.,Clinique médicale l'Actuel, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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Isabel Useros-Olmo A, Martínez-Pernía D, Huepe D. The effects of a relaxation program featuring aquatic therapy and autogenic training among people with cervical dystonia (a pilot study). Physiother Theory Pract 2018; 36:488-497. [PMID: 29939827 DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2018.1488319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Classic physical interventions for cervical dystonia (CD) have focused on treating motor components or, on motor components and relaxation programs. However, no CD treatment study has focused on a relaxation program alone. We developed a pilot study to assess whether a therapy completely based on a relaxation program could improve the physical and mental symptomatologies of patients with CD. Fifteen persons were included in the experimental group, which received individual sessions of aquatic (Watsu) therapy (WT) and autogenic training (AT). In addition, 12 persons were included in passive control group. We administered different questionnaires related to quality of life (SF-36), pain (Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS)) and mood (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)). A significant interaction was observed between treatment and time with regard to the SF-36, VAS, and TWSTRS within the experimental group (p < 0.01). The BDI-II showed depression decrease as a simple effect (p < 0.05), and the STAI did not change. No effects were found with regard to the control group. In this exploratory study, we found that a therapy based on whole body relaxation improved the symptoms of patients with CD. This knowledge enables a disease-management strategy that uses a holistic perspective and moves beyond the dystonic focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Useros-Olmo
- Department of Physiotherapy, Motion in Brains Research Group, Instituto de Neurociencias y Ciencias del Movimiento, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Unidad de Daño Cerebral. Hospital Beata María Ana, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Martínez-Pernía
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience(CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile.,Laboratorio de Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Clínicas (LANNEC), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile.,Clínica de Memoria y Neuropsiquiatría (CMYN), Servicio de Neurología. Hospital del Salvador y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - David Huepe
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience(CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
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Metikaridis TD, Hadjipavlou A, Artemiadis A, Chrousos G, Darviri C. Effect of a stress management program on subjects with neck pain: A pilot randomized controlled trial. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2016; 30:BMR709. [PMID: 27232086 DOI: 10.3233/bmr-160709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have shown that stress is implicated in the cause of neck pain (NP). OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a simple, zero cost stress management program on patients suffering from NP. METHODS This study is a parallel-type randomized clinical study. People suffering from chronic non-specific NP were chosen randomly to participate in an eight week duration program of stress management (N= 28) (including diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation) or in a no intervention control condition (N= 25). Self-report measures were used for the evaluation of various variables at the beginning and at the end of the eight-week monitoring period. Descriptive and inferential statistic methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS At the end of the monitoring period, the intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction of stress and anxiety (p= 0.03, p= 0.01), report of stress related symptoms (p= 0.003), percentage of disability due to NP (p= 0.000) and NP intensity (p= 0.002). At the same time, daily routine satisfaction levels were elevated (p= 0.019). No statistically significant difference was observed in cortisol measurements. CONCLUSIONS Stress management has positive effects on NP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Damianos Metikaridis
- Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander Hadjipavlou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
| | - Artemios Artemiadis
- Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Chrousos
- Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Aghia Sofia, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Darviri
- Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Lim SJ, Kim C. Effects of autogenic training on stress response and heart rate variability in nursing students. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci) 2014; 8:286-92. [PMID: 25529912 DOI: 10.1016/j.anr.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Revised: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was undertaken to confirm the effects of autogenic training (AT) on stress response and heart rate variability in nursing school students experiencing stress related to clinical training. METHODS The study was carried out from September 2012 to April 2013 in a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group using a pretest-posttest design. The participants were 40 nursing students in their third year at either of two nursing colleges. All consented to participate. Nineteen nursing students at one college were assigned to the experimental group and underwent the 8-week AT program, and the other 21 were assigned to the control group and did not undergo any training. Stress response was assessed by questionnaire and HRV was measured three times, that is, before the program, at the end of the program, and 6 months after the end of the AT program. RESULTS A significant time/group interaction was found for stress response (F = 4.68, p = .012), a subjective indicator. However, no significant interaction was found for the objective indicators of heart rate variability, normalized low frequency (F = 2.59, p = .090), normalized high frequency (F = 2.59, p = .090), or low frequency to high frequency ratio (F = 1.38, p = .257). CONCLUSION The results suggest that AT provides an acceptable approach to stress reduction in nursing students.
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