Evaluating the response of mild hypertensives to biofeedback-assisted relaxation using a mental stress test.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the long term effect of a program of biofeedback-assisted relaxation on hypertensive patients by mental stress test reactivity. Twenty mild hypertensive patients were subjected to a mental arithmetic stress test before and six months after completing biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy. The therapy consisted of 10 sessions of biofeedback-assisted relaxation instruction and continuous home practise. The study group was compared to a control group. The biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment produced a mild improvement in blood pressure control and decreased the dose of drugs used as well as a decrease in state-anxiety (p < 0.05). The stress-induced increases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, galvanic skin response and skin temperature were all significantly attenuated six months after completion of biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment.