A Simple Psychophysiologic Technique Which Elicits the Hypometabolic Changes of the Relaxation Response

Beary, John F.; Benson, Herbert; Klemchuk, Helen P.

doi:10.1097/00006842-197403000-00003

Cited by 229 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…These findings improve the predictive value of the theory. Patients used relaxation and music to relax and distract themselves from pain, which supports the gate control theory mechanisms that cognitive and emotional factors result in descending modulation of noxious impulses (Melzack & Wall, 1965), mediated by the thalamus, the hypothalamus, autonomic nervous system, and endogenous opiates (Beary & Benson, 1974;Dickenson, 1983;Hardy, 1985;Standley, 1986;Tasker, Choiniere, Libman, & Melzack, 1987). Lack of autonomic effects suggests variations in the mediation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Selective attention alerts the prefrontal cortex to the sound (e.g., music or relaxation instructions) rather than to the noxious input, and thereby inhibits pain (Fuster & Alexander, 1973;Willis, 1985). Reduced muscular and mental tension also decrease sympathetic stimulation of the hypothalamus (Beary & Benson, 1974). These processes inhibit transmission of afferent noxious impulses in the central nervous system by activating endogenous opiates, descending nerve impulses, and neuropeptides in the brain and spinal cord (Andy, 1983;Yezierski, Gerhart, Schrock, & Willis, 1983).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relaxation and music reduce pain following intestinal surgery

Good

Anderson

Ahn

et al. 2005

Research in Nursing & Health

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Three nonpharmacological nursing interventions, relaxation, chosen music, and their combination, were tested for pain relief following intestinal (INT) surgery in a randomized clinical trial. The 167 patients were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups or control and were tested during ambulation and rest on postoperative days 1 and 2. Pain sensation and distress were measured with visual analog scales (VAS). Multivariate analysis of covariance showed significantly less post-test pain in the intervention groups than in the control group on both days after rest and at three of six ambulation post-tests (p ¼ .024-.001), resulting in 16-40% less pain. Mixed effects after ambulation were due to the large variation in pain and difficulty relaxing while returning to bed; but post hoc explorations showed effects for those with high and low pain. These interventions are recommended along with analgesics for greater postoperative relief without additional side effects.ß

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relaxation and music reduce pain following intestinal surgery

Good

Anderson

Ahn

et al. 2005

Research in Nursing & Health

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“…When relaxation and music distract the mind, the result is selective attention mediated by the thalamus that alerts the prefrontal cortex to the sound rather than to the painful input (Fuster and Alexander, 1973;Willis, 1985), causing pain inhibition (Fuster, 1980;Hardy, 1985). Relaxation and soothing music reduce muscular and mental tension and thereby, reduce sympathetic stimulation of the hypothalamus (Beary and Benson, 1974;Melzack, 1982;Turner and Chapman, 1982;Standley, 1986) which activates endogenous opiates in the central nervous system, reducing propagation of pain impulses and modulating perception of the sensory and affective components of pain (Vidal and Jacob, 1980;Carr and Uysal, 1985;Goldstein, 1985;Tasher et al, 1987;Culhane and Carstens, 1988). Concurrent reductions in pulse and respiration in this study indicate that relaxation or distraction reduces sympathetic activity as they reduce pain.…”

Section: Support Of Theorymentioning

confidence: 66%

Relief of postoperative pain with jaw relaxation, music and their combination

Good

Stanton‐Hicks

Grass

et al. 1999

Pain

204

209

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The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effect of jaw relaxation, music and the combination of relaxation and music on postoperative pain after major abdominal surgery during ambulation and rest on postoperative days 1 and 2. Opioid medication provided for pain, following abdominal surgery, does not always give sufficient relief and can cause undesired side effects. Thus, additional interventions such as music and relaxation may provide more complete relief. Previous studies have found mixed results due to small sample sizes and other methodological problems. In a rigorous experimental design, 500 subjects aged 18-70 in five Midwestern hospitals were randomly assigned by minimization to a relaxation, music, relaxation plus music, or control group. Interventions were taught preoperatively and tested postoperatively. The same amount of time was spent with subjects in the control group. Pain was measured with the visual analogue sensation and distress of pain scales. Demographic and surgical variables, and milligrams of parenteral or oral opioids in effect at the time of testing were not significantly different between the groups, nor did they correlate with pain scores. Controlling for pretest sensation and distress, orthogonal a priori contrasts and multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that the three treatment groups had significantly less pain than the controls, (P = 0.028-0.000) which was confirmed by the univariate analysis of covariance (P = 0.018-0.000). Post hoc multivariate analysis revealed that the combination group had significantly less sensation and distress of pain than the control group on all post-tests (P = 0.035-0.000), and the relaxation and music groups had significantly less on all tests (P = 0.022-0.000) except after ambulation. At post ambulation those using relaxation did not have significantly less pain than the controls on both days and those using music did not on day 1, although there were some univariate effects. A corresponding significant decrease in mastery of the interventions from pre to post ambulation suggests the need for reminders to focus on the intervention during this increased activity. Physicians and nurses preparing patients for surgery and caring for them afterward, should encourage patients to use relaxation and music as adjuvants to medication for postoperative pain.

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“…[15][16][17][18] A limited number of scientifically rigorous research studies have explored Reiki's effectiveness, 19,20 and a review suggests beneficial effects on pain, fatigue, mood, and quality of life. 18,20 RRT teaches subjects to evoke the relaxation response, [21][22][23] which helps them replace negative thoughts with less frightening and more positive images (cognitive restructuring). A recent meta-analysis examining autogenic training and self-relaxation demonstrated that each technique had positive effects in patients with tension headaches, coronary artery disease, asthma, pain, Raynaud syndrome, anxiety, depression, or sleeplessness.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of complementary therapies on clinical outcomes in patients being treated with radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Beard

Stason

Wang

et al. 2010

Cancer

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BACKGROUND. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined the clinical effects of 2 complementary (CAM) therapies, relaxation response therapy (RRT) and Reiki therapy, in men being treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRx) for prostate cancer. METHODS. Study participants were randomly assigned to weekly RRT, Reiki therapy twice weekly, or wait-list control. Well-validated instruments measured anxiety (STAI), depression (CES-D), and quality of life in cancer patients (FACT-G) at randomization and 3 subsequent time points. RESULTS. Fifty-four men were randomized, and 16 of 18 (89%) of RRT and 15 of 18 (83%) of Reiki patients completed the intervention protocol. No statistically significant difference was found between the RRT, Reiki, and control groups on total scores for the STAI, CES-D, or FACT-G instruments at any time point. However, at the end of the intervention, significant improvement was found on the emotional well-being subscale of the FACT-G quality of life scale in the RRT group compared with the Reiki and control groups (P ¼ .01). In participants who were classified as ''anxious'' at baseline, statistically significant improvement occurred in the RRT group (P ¼ .02), and a positive trend was found in the Reiki group (P ¼ .10). CONCLUSIONS. This pilot study documented the feasibility of conducting a RCT of CAM therapies in men undergoing EBRx for prostate cancer. Relaxation response therapy improved emotional well being and eased anxiety in participants. Reiki therapy also had a positive effect in anxious patients. A larger study to verify and better define the benefits of these therapies in men with prostate cancer is warranted. Cancer 2011;117:96-102.

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A Simple Psychophysiologic Technique Which Elicits the Hypometabolic Changes of the Relaxation Response

Cited by 229 publications

References 15 publications

Relaxation and music reduce pain following intestinal surgery

Relaxation and music reduce pain following intestinal surgery

Relief of postoperative pain with jaw relaxation, music and their combination

Effects of complementary therapies on clinical outcomes in patients being treated with radiation therapy for prostate cancer

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