Teaching parents to conduct behavioral relaxation training with their hyperactive children

Three boys meeting multiple criteria for hyperactivity received Behavioral Relaxation Training (BRT) in their homes from their parents, under the supervision of the experimenter. BRT involved modeling, prompting, token reinforcement, and praise, for ten overt relaxed behaviors. All children learned to relax to a criterion of at least 80% on the Behavioral Relaxation Scale (BRS), an objective measure of relaxation. Frontalis EMG levels were correlated with BRS scores for two children. Proficiency was maintained at one and three-month follow-ups. All children were removed from medication by follow-up. Parent ratings of hyperactive behavior on two standardized questionnaires showed improvements from baseline to follow-up. Teacher ratings of problem behavior were less consistently positive. The concept of relaxation as a skill rather than a state, and its implications as an alternative to medication therapy, are discussed.