Relaxation therapy: adjunctive therapy for the physician

Relaxation therapy is one of the new modalities in the area of behavioral medicine which physicians may wish to use for tense patients as adjunctive to purely medical treatment. Efficacy of the specific therapy and patient compliance may be improved by use of relaxation therapy. This paper gives details on how to provide the basics in relaxation training. These techniques were used in a research program developed at Howard University Medical School. The beginning steps in controlled, relaxed breathing; progressive relaxation; autogenic training; and simple mental imagery are described. It is emphasized that time is required for the patient to acquire these skills. The skills are cumulative and, once learned, can lead to self-regulation and self-discipline to assist individuals in dealing with stress.