Positive Health Online

Abstract

GOLDING and COLLEAGUES, 1. Clinical Neuropsychology Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK; 2. School of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK; 3. Discipline of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia followed up participants in a randomised controlled trial of relaxation training for anxiety after stroke at 12 months.

Background

Methodology

To follow up participants in a randomised controlled trial of relaxation training for anxiety after stroke at 12 months. Design: Twelve month follow-up to a randomised controlled trial, in which the control group also received treatment. Setting: Community. Participants: Fifteen of twenty one original participants with post-stroke anxiety participated in a one year follow-up study. Interventions: A self-help autogenic relaxation CD listened to five times a week for one month, immediately in the intervention group and after three months in the control group. Main Measures: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale and the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status for inclusion. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale for outcome. All measures were administered by phone.

Results

Anxiety ratings reduced significantly between pre and post-intervention, and between pre-intervention and one year follow-up ( χ2(2) = 22.29, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Reductions in anxiety in stroke survivors who received a self-help autogenic relaxation CD appear to be maintained after one year.

References

Golding K1, Fife-Schaw C2, Kneebone I3. Twelve month follow-up on a randomised controlled trial of relaxation training for post-stroke anxiety. Clin Rehabil. 31(9):1164-1167. Sep 2017.doi: 10.1177/0269215516682820. Epub Dec 8 2016.

Comment

The above research demonstrates that a self-help autogenic relaxation CD training significantly reduced anxiety in stroke survivors.