Autogenic Training Research Articles

Kinesitherapy and psychotherapy in the children and adolescents with non-psychotic depressions

The results of the present study indicate that the combination of psychotherapy and therapeutic physical training allows the efficacy of the treatment of non-psychotic depressions to be increased. The depressive disorders were diagnosed and dynamically evaluated using the psychometric HAMD-21 scales, Zung questionnaires, and XDI. Short-term integrative psychotherapy in the patients presenting with non-psychotic depressions was carried out in the form of autogenic training, suggestive therapy, and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Kinesitherapy was performed in the form of integrative gymnastics and breathing exercises believed to produce the psychotropic effect. The combined application of the above therapeutic modalities proved to be more efficacious than either of them. Special therapeutic exercises alone were insufficient to achieve the desired result. The efficacy of the combined treatment of the children and adolescents with affective borderline disorders with both methods described as the "marked improvement" was estimated at 73.5% compared with 25.8% among the control patients managed with the help of therapeutic physical training alone (p<0.05).

Cognitive behavioral smoking cessation during alcohol detoxification treatment: A randomized, controlled trial

BackgroundAmong alcohol-dependent subjects tobacco smoking is very common and causes a variety of health risks. Therefore, it is necessary to reach this high-risk population early with appropriate smoking interventions. MethodsSmokers in alcohol detoxification treatment were offered to participate in a smoking cessation study. A total of 103 patients was enrolled and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) receiving a cognitive behavioral smoking cessation treatment (CBT) or the control group (CG) receiving autogenic training. Smoking outcomes were measured by self-report and carbon monoxide levels, directly after intervention and 6 months later, where additionally alcohol outcomes were recorded. ResultsThere were no differences in smoking quit rates directly after intervention. However, patients in the EG were significantly more likely to reduce their daily cigarette use compared to CG (p=.046). Sub-group analyses revealed that heavy smokers (FTND score≥7) seemed to profit most in the EG regarding cigarette reduction. After 6 months, these positive effects had leveled out. No evidence was found that smoking cessation might jeopardize alcohol outcomes. ConclusionsResults suggest that alcohol-dependent smokers are interested in smoking interventions even during alcohol detoxification. CBT is promising in short-term smoking outcomes and in the approach of harm reduction, however, long-term effects are desirable. These findings underline the feasibility and the importance to provide smoking cessation interventions to patients in alcohol detoxification treatments.

A systematic review of evidence for the effectiveness of practitioner-based complementary and alternative therapies in the management of rheumatic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis

To critically review the evidence on the effectiveness of complementary therapies for patients with RA. Randomized controlled trials, published in English up to May 2011, were identified using systematic searches of bibliographic databases and searching of reference lists. Information was extracted on outcomes and statistical significance in comparison with alternative treatments and reported side effects. The methodological quality of the identified studies was determined using the Jadad scoring system. All outcomes were considered but with a focus on patient global assessment and pain reporting. Eleven eligible trials were identified covering seven therapies. Three trials that compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture reported no significant difference in pain reduction between the groups but one out of two reported an improvement in patient global assessment. Except for reduction in physician's global assessment of treatment and disease activity reported in one trial, no other comparative benefit of acupuncture was seen. There were two studies on meditation and one each on autogenic training, healing therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, static magnets and tai chi. None of these trials reported positive comparative effects on pain but some positive effects on patient global assessment were noted at individual time points in the healing therapy and magnet therapy studies. A small number of other outcomes showed comparative improvement in individual trials. There were no reports of major adverse events. The very limited evidence available indicates that for none of the practitioner-based complementary therapies considered here is there good evidence of efficacy or effectiveness in the management of RA.

OA05.03. Impact of a mind-body medicine skills course on medical students’ perceived stress, mindfulness and elements of emotional intelligence

Purpose Most medical schools list self-awareness, self-care and personal growth as key educational competencies. Yet, studies have reported that traits such as altruism and empathy tend to decline throughout medical school training. To foster medical student self-awareness and mindfulness, which may improve their emotional intelligence (EI), Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM) offers an experiential course to medical students in mind-body medicine skills. The purpose is to expose students to a variety of mind-body approaches (e.g., mindfulness meditation, autogenic training, guided imageries, movement, and writing exercises), as well as group sharing that involves listening generously and without judgment.

Cerebral somatic pain modulation during autogenic training in fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies are increasingly employed in different conscious states. Autogenic training (AT) is a common clinically used relaxation method. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cerebral modulation of pain activity patterns due to AT and to correlate the effects to the degree of experience with AT and strength of stimuli. Thirteen volunteers familiar with AT were studied with fMRI during painful electrical stimulation in a block design alternating between resting state and electrical stimulation, both without AT and while employing the same paradigm when utilizing their AT abilities. The subjective rating of painful stimulation and success in modulation during AT was assessed. During painful electrical stimulation without AT, fMRI revealed activation of midcingulate, right secondary sensory, right supplementary motor, and insular cortices, the right thalamus and left caudate nucleus. In contrast, utilizing AT only activation of left insular and supplementary motor cortices was revealed. The paired t-test revealed pain-related activation in the midcingulate, posterior cingulate and left anterior insular cortices for the condition without AT, and activation in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex under AT. Activation of the posterior cingulate cortex and thalamus correlated with the amplitude of electrical stimulation. This study revealed an effect on cerebral pain processing while performing AT. This might represent the cerebral correlate of different painful stimulus processing by subjects who are trained in performing relaxation techniques. However, due to the absence of a control group, further studies are needed to confirm this theory.

Émile Coué : amuseur ou précurseur ?

Coué, the French pharmacist, who lived in Nancy in the beginning of the XXth century, is usually referred as the author of the famous sentence: “Every day, in every way, I feel better and better”. The formula seems so naïve, that everyone is using it to qualify a man, who takes his desire for reality. In fact, Coué was impressed by the so called “school of Nancy”, lead by Liébault and Bernheim at the end of the XIXth century but switched from hetero-suggestion by hypnosis to autosuggestion, which is a kind of auto-hypnosis and put emphasis on personal responsibility. This is why the Coué method has nowadays many followers, even if they are reluctant to concede it, such as the autogenic training of Schultz, the American positive thinking, the mind cure and the French positive psychology. No doubt that today Coué is more a forerunner than an entertainer.

Features and Effectiveness of Group Autogenic Training(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

Features and Effectiveness of Group Autogenic Training(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

Dizziness and psychogenic disorders

Dizziness and psychogenic disorders, including depression and anxiety, are closely related. The diagnosis of dizziness includes not only an evaluation of vestibular dysfunction, but also a psychogenic evaluation. Using this approach, the following three different patterns of dizziness should be carefully identified: psychogenic, otogenic, and interactive. The common somatic symptoms in patients with chronic dizziness (N=145) were investigated using questions designed to assess headache, insomnia, diarrhea, constipation, stomachache, chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, and general fatigue. The prevalent somatic symptom in patients with dizziness included general fatigue, insomnia, and headache. These symptoms are very similar to those reported for patients with anxiety and depression. Patients with dizziness clearly had several somatic complaints related to anxiety or depression that could be attributed to the dizziness. Treatments included pharmacotherapy and physical therapy (including rehabilitation for vestibular dysfunction), surgical intervention, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy for anxiety and depression. Pharmacotherapy using serotonin reuptake inhibitors and psychotherapy, such as autogenic training, were also performed.

P-1365 - Integrative psychotherapy of somatoform disorders

On the basis of the examined 350 patients with somatoform disorders and 250 patients with chronic psychosomatic diseases we have elaborated a test that allows to evaluate quantitatively the influents of the disease on patients' social functions. We created the integrative psychotherapy system with cognitive-oriented, suggestive and autosuggestive implementations. Elucidation of peculiarity of personal perception of the disease served as basis of elaboration of purposeful system of psychotherapy, consulting, psychological support for psychosomatic patients with high-effectiveness 1,5 – 3 years catamnesis in 85% patients. Psychotherapy should be used first of all as a target-oriented. Our experience showed the necessity of the use the integrative models of psychotherapy, parted on stages. On the first stage the receptions of cognitive and suggestive psychotherapy are used. There is group therapy on second stage. On the third stage elements of the autogenic training mastered.

P-1367 - Somatoform disorders integrative psychotherapy model

Last 10 years in Ukraine the special priority has the problem of somatoform disorders. The most significant role belongs to the patient's self-evaluation of the influence of the disease on their social functioning, influence essential past of the self picture of the disease and the important point of therapeutic rehabilitation intervention. On the basis of the examined 300 patients on somatoform disorders and 210 patients on ischemic cordial disease we have elaborated a formal test that allows to evaluate quantitatively the influents of the disease on various spheres of patients' social status. It was absolutely unrespectable the common for ischemic cordial and somatoform disorders patients rise of significance of personal individual, common life factors in cases of aggravation of the main disease course. We created the integrative psychotherapy system with cognitive-behavioral, suggestive and autosuggestive implementations. Elucidation of peculiarity of personal perception of the disease served as basis of elaboration of purposeful system of psychotherapy, consulting, psychological support for patients with high-effectiveness 1,5 – 3 years catamnesis in 85% patients. The retrospective results showed the necessity the target-oriented integrative models of psychotherapy, parted on stages. On the first stage - sedative-adapting the receptions of cognitive and suggestive psychotherapy are used. There is group therapy on second-main-stage. On the third stage-supportive-elements of the autogenic training mastered.

Basic Technique and the Technique that have been Devised of Autogenic Training(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

Basic Technique and the Technique that have been Devised of Autogenic Training(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

The effects of Group Autogenic Training on skin temperature of fingertips and Stress Reduction in primary school children

The effects of Group Autogenic Training on skin temperature of fingertips and Stress Reduction in primary school children

History and Evolution of Autogenic Training(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

History and Evolution of Autogenic Training(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

Application of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Diseases(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

Application of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Diseases(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Clinical Application and Utility of Autogenic Training in Psychosomatic Medicine)

한방정신요법 및 자율훈련법을 사용한 경련을 주증상으로 하는 전환장애 1례

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to suggest that psychotherapy must be considered when treating conversion disorder patient with convulsion. Methods : We treated the patient with counseling and autogenic training in psychotherapies, not only traditional methods. Results : In this study, we found difference between when counselling and autogenic training is combined and when they are not practiced. Conclusions : Counseling and autogenic training is good treatment at patient with convulsion of conversion disorder.

The suppressive effects of autogenic training on sympathetic nerve activity during dental procedure

The suppressive effects of autogenic training on sympathetic nerve activity during dental procedure

The influence of guidance factor on the physiological effects in Autogenic Training

The influence of guidance factor on the physiological effects in Autogenic Training

Transition of image and trait alexithymia during the acquired process of autogenic training

Transition of image and trait alexithymia during the acquired process of autogenic training

Autogenic Training as a behavioural approach to insomnia: a prospective cohort study

Insomnia is commonly associated with chronic health problems. Behavioural and cognitive factors often perpetuate a vicious cycle of anxiety and sleep disturbance, leading to long-term insomnia. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence currently recommends behavioural approaches before prescribing hypnotics. Behavioural approaches aim to treat underlying causes, but are not widely available. Research usually includes patients diagnosed with insomnia rather than secondary, co-morbid sleep- related problems. To examine the effectiveness of autogenic training (AT) as a non-drug approach to sleep-related problems associated with chronic ill health. Prospective pre- and post-treatment cohort study. AT centre, Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. All patients referred for AT from April 2007 to April 2008 were invited to participate. Participants received standard 8-week training, with no specific focus on sleep. Sleep questionnaires were administered at four time points, 'Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile' (MYMOP) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, before and after treatment. Results before and after treatment were compared. Camden and Islington Community Local Research and Ethics Committee approved the study. The AT course was completed by 153 participants, of whom 73% were identified as having a sleep-related problem. Improvements in sleep patterns included: sleep onset latency (P = 0.049), falling asleep quicker after night waking (P < 0.001), feeling more refreshed (P < 0.001) and more energised on waking (P = 0.019). MYMOP symptom, well-being, anxiety and depression scores significantly improved (all P < 0.001). This study suggests that AT may improve sleep patterns for patients with various health conditions and reduce anxiety and depression, both of which may result from and cause insomnia. Improvements in sleep patterns occurred despite, or possibly due to, not focusing on sleep during training. AT may provide an approach to insomnia that could be incorporated into primary care.

Mind-body interventions during pregnancy for preventing or treating women's anxiety

Anxiety during pregnancy is a common problem. Anxiety and stress could have consequences on the course of the pregnancy and the later development of the child. Anxiety responds well to treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and/or medication. Non-pharmacological interventions such as mind-body interventions, known to decrease anxiety in several clinical situations, might be offered for treating and preventing anxiety during pregnancy. To assess the benefits of mind-body interventions during pregnancy in preventing or treating women's anxiety andin influencing perinatal outcomes. We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 November 2010), MEDLINE (1950 to 30 November 2010), EMBASE (1974 to 30 November 2010), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) (1 December 2010), ClinicalTrials.gov (December 2010) and Current Controlled Trials (1 December 2010), searched the reference lists of selected studies and contacted professionals and authors in the field. Randomized controlled trials, involving pregnant women of any age at any time from conception to one month after birth, comparing mind-body interventions with a control group. Mind-body interventions include: autogenic training, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, imagery, meditation, prayer, auto-suggestion, tai-chi and yoga. Control group includes: standard care, other pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions, other types of mind-body interventions or no treatment at all. Three review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion all assessed risk of bias for each included study. We extracted data independently using an agreed form and checked it for accuracy. We included eight trials (556 participants), evaluating hypnotherapy (one trial), imagery (five trials), autogenic training (one trial) and yoga (one trial). Due to the small number of studies per intervention and to the diversity of outcome measurements, we performed no meta-analysis, and have reported results individually for each study. Compared with usual care, in one study (133 women), imagery may have a positive effect on anxiety during labor decreasing anxiety at the early and middle stages of labor (MD -1.46; 95% CI -2.43 to -0.49; one study, 133 women) and (MD -1.24; 95% CI -2.18 to -0.30). Another study showed that imagery had a positive effect on anxiety and depression in the immediate postpartum period. Autogenic training might be effective for decreasing women's anxiety before delivering. Mind-body interventions might benefit women's anxiety during pregnancy. Based on individual studies, there is some but no strong evidence for the effectiveness of mind-body interventions for the management of anxiety during pregnancy. The main limitations of the studies were the lack of blinding and insufficient details on the methods used for randomization.