Relaxation behavior therapy as sole treatment for mild hypertension

This study tested the efficacy of relaxation therapy as sole treatment for mild hypertension in 110 men and women recruited from a five-stage worksite blood pressure screening program. Participants were randomized to 12-weeks of relaxation therapy or support therapy. Outcome blood pressure assessments made by assessors who were unaware of group allocation revealed similar decreases in both treatment groups at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up. While body weight did not change, alcohol consumption decreased similarly in both groups, and alcohol consumption was positively correlated with both absolute diastolic blood pressure and change in diastolic blood pressure at outcome. In conclusion, a superior blood pressure effect was not associated with relaxation therapy; however, alcohol consumption decreased in both treatment groups, suggesting that both interventions facilitated changes in health risk behaviors and indirectly on blood pressure level.