[Relaxation therapy with respiratory feedback in patients with essential hypertension]

During a stationary rehabilitation program for four to six weeks 170 patients with essential hypertension participated in a respiratory feedback (RFB) evaluation. 91 patients were treated with this relaxation therapy and compared with 79 controls. Furthermore the anti-hypertensive medication was controlled. One treatment group (without antihypertensive medication) had a higher systolic blood-pressure decrease than controls. In both treatment groups psychological effects in the sense of more positive mood and less physical complaints were found.