Family psychotherapy in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Preliminary study

Family psychotherapy has been shown to have a positive impact on the evolution of patients with psychosomatic disorders, and in those with arterial hypertension it could improve the level of control of the disease.

To evaluate the impact of an intervention in family psychotherapy in patients with uncontrolled systemic arterial hypertension.

Study with comparative groups. 15 uncontrolled hypertensive patients, assigned to 2 groups: an intervention group of 10 patients who received family psychotherapy and a control group of 5 patients. In both groups, the pharmacological treatment indicated by experts was continued. Both groups were compared before and after the intervention regarding quality of life (InCaViSa), family functioning (Family Functioning Scale), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and creatinine.

There was qualitative improvement in the domains of the InCaViSa scale to estimate quality of life in the intervention group and there were no statistically significant changes between the groups in family functioning or in body weight. Among the biochemical variables, only cholesterol showed a significant reduction (p = 0.47). Greater mobility of the family towards more functional behaviors was found in the group that received the intervention, and also in this group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values decreased (p < 0.001), and the use of antihypertensive, anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs, as well.

Family psychotherapeutic intervention can favor the control of blood pressure, reduce the doses of antihypertensive, anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs and it can help to transition to better functionally family states.