Autogenic Training Research Articles

Rowing Over the Edge: Nonfunctional Overreaching and Overtraining Syndrome as Maladjustment—Diagnosis and Treatment From a Psychological Perspective

A rigorous training schedule with insufficient recovery can lead to nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) or overtraining syndrome (OTS). Research has suggested the multifactorial etiology of these phenomena. Stressors that contribute to and are symptoms and consequences of NFOR and OTS and adjustment disorder are almost identical. In this case study of an elite rower, the author illustrates an intervention approach that can be taken when overtraining is viewed as a sport-specific form of adjustment disorder. The intervention involved treatment that improved the athlete’s awareness of his basic biopsychosocial processes, developed sources of self-worth beyond athletic performance, and challenged his 1-dimensional athletic identity. The intervention included cognitive-behavioral therapy methods (e.g., autogenic training) and mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions to enhance the athlete’s psychological flexibility. Mood monitoring was used as a diagnostic and evaluative instrument. Intervention effectiveness was evaluated through an in-depth interview with the athlete. The consulting sport psychologist also engaged in reflection about treatment effectiveness and predominant challenges. Challenging the athlete and clarifying his personal values were judged to be very important. Evaluation suggested that viewing NFOR and OTS as forms of adjustment disorder may help us recognize the multifaceted nature of an athlete’s maladjusted state and widen treatment options.

Об истории появления учебного пособия «Психотехника переживания» Ф.Е. Василюка (в жанре культурно-исторического эссе)

The article focuses on one of the first experiences of applying psychology to solving practical tasks, moreover on the scale of an entire country, in the framework of the project «Practical Psychology of Creativity», the idea of which originated in 1989. That was also the first experience of distance psychological counseling of several thousand people on the basis of specially designed for this course tutorials which included “Psychotechnique of Experiencing” by F.Ye. Vasilyuk and two more manuals: “Autogenic Training” by N. N. Petrov and “If the Situation Seems Irresolvable...” by V.K. Zaretsky. The objective of this article is to show through the analysis of less known episodes of F.Vasilyuk's biography the initial milestones of the movement towards overcoming the schism between academic psychology and psychological practice which was described by him later.

Strategic approaches to combat the effect of stress induced eating

Stress could be explained as non-specific outcomes of the body to any exterior event that evokes the specific functional reactions of the body’s ability to regulate the equilibrium of inner biological mechanisms. 121 million people worldwide are affected by stress which is the common psychological disorder. Stress and anxiety are interrelated. Stress-induced eating is one of the ways to make oneself feel better in stressful condition, thereby increasing the physiologic demands which lead to obesity and further comorbidities as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and diabetes. Psychological feeding incorporated with stress can be managed by implying healthy eating practices as compared to opting for convenience foods. Strategic approaches as muscles relaxing techniques, transcendental meditation, autogenic training, guided imagery and cognitive behavior therapy should be intervened in managing level of stress in individuals. Stress is inevitable but it can be managed by lifestyle modification such as physical activity, healthy eating and meditation

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS RECEIVED IN THE PAIN EFFECTS SCALE IN WOMEN WITH MULTIPLE SCULPROSIS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), one of the biggest puzzles in medicine. A number of drugs and therapies have been developed that affect the symptoms or change the severity and frequency of the seizures. Multiple sclerosis is of great social and economic importance to the world, due to the great invasion at early age. It affects the "young adults" in their creatively active period - between 10 and 50 years of age. Contrary to most allegations that pain is absent in MS patients, this is not the case. In the first periods of the disease, pain is almost absent, apart from the periodic manifestation of cramps, perceptions and all types of pain in the body, which at night interfere with sleep, provoke chronic fatigue and irritability (as they themselves have other mechanisms leading to the event their). However, some studies show that pain persists more frequently in women than in men. In most cases, disabling and immobilizing patients is exalted by their attempts to avoid pain. Physiotherapy is a basic tool for maintaining and improving the general condition of the patient. The study involved 22 patients with relapsing-remitting MS. The survey was conducted on the territory of Sofia - NSA "Vasil Levski", in the period from 01.09.2013 to 30.10.2015. The pain syndrome was evaluated in multiple sclerosis patients, at the beginning, the 10th procedure and the last procedure. For each patient in the experimental group, 20 procedures were performed within 10 weeks. The duration of the individual activity was 1 hour. The procedures for hippotherapy were a total of 16, each lasting 30 minutes. After the completion of the 10-week Physiotherapy program, each of the patients continues the hippotherapy courses on the Khan Asparuh horse base. The therapeutic program we have prepared and tested includes the following: Exercise with a large therapeutic ball (fitball); proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF); myofascial techniques (MFT); autogenous training (AT); hippo therapy (HT). During the study, the subsequent results showed a significant decrease in pain in the tested group. At the end of the study, the improvement of the indicators from the initial to the final study were seen. The statistical significance is less than or equal to 0.01, with the possibility of error being minimal. From the conclusions, it can be said that the methodology thus performed brings great positives in terms of pain reduction in women with multiple sclerosis who participated in the study.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS RECEIVED IN THE PAIN EFFECTS SCALE IN MEN WITH MULTIPLE SCULPROSIS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), one of the biggest puzzles in medicine. A number of drugs and therapies have been developed that affect the symptoms or change the severity and frequency of the seizures. Multiple sclerosis is of great social and economic importance to the world, due to the great invasion at early age. It affects the "young adults" in their creatively active period - between 10 and 50 years of age. Contrary to most allegations that pain is absent in MS patients, this is not the case. In the first periods of the disease, pain is almost absent, apart from the periodic manifestation of cramps, perceptions and all types of pain in the body, which at night interfere with sleep, provoke chronic fatigue and irritability (as they themselves have other mechanisms leading to the event their). However, some studies show that pain persists more frequently in women than in men. In most cases, disabling and immobilizing patients is exalted by their attempts to avoid pain. Physiotherapy is a basic tool for maintaining and improving the general condition of the patient. The study involved 18 male patients with relapsing-remitting MS. The survey was conducted on the territory of Sofia - NSA "Vasil Levski", in the period from 01.09.2013 to 30.10.2015. The pain syndrome was evaluated in multiple sclerosis patients, at the beginning, the 10th procedure and the last procedure. For each patient in the experimental group, 20 procedures were performed within 10 weeks. The duration of the individual activity was 1 hour. The procedures for hippotherapy were a total of 16, each lasting 30 minutes. After the completion of the 10-week Physiotherapy program, each of the patients continues the hippotherapy courses on the Khan Asparuh horse base. The therapeutic program we have prepared and tested includes the following: Exercise with a large therapeutic ball (fitball); proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF); myofascial techniques (MFT); autogenous training (AT); hippo therapy (HT). During the study, the subsequent results showed a significant decrease in pain in the tested group. At the end of the study, the improvement of the indicators from the initial to the final study were seen. The statistical significance is less than or equal to 0.01, with the possibility of error being minimal. From the conclusions, it can be said that the methodology thus performed brings great positives in terms of pain reduction in women with multiple sclerosis who participated in the study.

AUTOGENIC TRAINING AND PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION INTERVENTIONS: EFFECTS ON MENTAL SKILLS OF FEMALES

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Autogenic training and Progressive muscle relaxation technique on the mental skills of female subjects. We recruited 60 female subjects and assigned them into three groups i.e. AT group, PMR group and control group. The first and second groups were provided with 8-week Autogenic training and PMR interventions respectively, whereas the control group continued their general routine. All three groups were tested pre and post interventions for their mental skills by using Hardy and Nelson mental skills questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested by applying ANCOVA to the collected data at 0.05 significance level. Results revealed that only concentration ability was significantly improved with Autogenic training and PMR, whereas no significant differences were observed for other variables. Article visualizations:

Severe tinnitus in a patient with acquired deafness for over 50\u2009years: a case report

BackgroundThere have been many reports on the treatment effect of cochlear implantation and hearing aids in the treatment of tinnitus in patients with severe hearing loss. However, as far as we are aware, there are no reports of investigation of treatment approaches for the tinnitus of deaf patients whose communication is solely carried out in sign language due to a long duration of deafness.Case presentationWe experienced a case of severe tinnitus with bilateral deafness for more than 50 years. The patient is a 69-year-old woman who communicates with her family solely in sign language. Family stress triggered the onset of tinnitus, accompanied by sleep disorder and palpitations. At the initial visit, she suffered from severe tinnitus (THI 94) as well as strong tendencies toward depression and anxiety. Because neither the patient nor her family was willing to use cochlear implantation, the administration of an antidepressant and a sleep-inducing agent was started, which resulted in improvement of the psychological conditions. Tinnitus distress, synchronized with the heartbeat, was relieved by the addition of autogenic training. At four and half years after the initial visit, the THI score had dropped to 0, and the subjective tinnitus and palpitation had almost disappeared, with only a low dose of antidepressant necessary.ConclusionA deaf patient with severe tinnitus was successfully treated with drug and psychotherapy.

Quality of life, work motivation, burn-out and stress perceptions benefits of a stress management program by autogenic training for emergency room staff: A pilot study

Emergency room have particularly stressful work situations. Emergency room personnel cope with stressors on a daily basis. These stressors can be risks factor for burn out and for reduced quality of life and work motivation. Emergency room staff of one of ASP 3 CT urban hospital in Acireale, Italy participated to stress management program by autogenic training twice a month for 16 weeks. This program were prepared based on existing research and studies, and were conducted by clinical psychologists. We found that the mean value in pre-test is significantly different from mean value in post-test for: Perceived Stress Scale PPS (t=7.72 with 27 df and P<0.001); Euro Quality for life (t=-14,13 with 27 df and P<0.001); Work motivation assessed by Visual Analogue scale VAS (t=-4.52 with 27 df and P<0.001). In the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the mean value is significantly different for emotional exhaustion sub-scale (t=5.64 with 27 with 27 df and P<0.001) and for depersonalization subscale (t=6.67 with 27 df and P<0.001). No significant difference was observed for the personal accomplishment sub-scale. This research suggests that psychological interventions with emergency room staff are effective. Our study showed effectiveness of an auto-genic and stress management training in improvement of quality of life, work motivation, burn-out and stress perceptions for emergency department team.

Heart rate variability biofeedback increases sexual arousal among women with female sexual arousal disorder: Results from a randomized-controlled trial

Low resting heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with poor sexual arousal function in women. In a recent study, a single session of autogenic training increased HRV and facilitated improvements in both sexual arousal and perceived genital sensations among women experiencing decreased arousal. The current study expands upon these findings by examining the efficacy of HRV biofeedback, with and without autogenic training, as a treatment for sexual arousal dysfunction in an at-home setting. Participants (N = 78) were randomized into one of three conditions: HRV biofeedback, HRV biofeedback + autogenic training, or waitlist control. Each condition included three laboratory sessions; participants in the two active conditions completed 4–6 biofeedback sessions at home, and participants in the HRVB + A condition listened to a 14-min autogenic training recording before completing the biofeedback. Across the three laboratory visits, participants in the three conditions singficnatly differed in their genital arousal, subjective sexual arousal, and their perceived genital sensations. Compared to women in the control group, women who engaged in HRV biofeedback at home, with and without additional autogenic training, experienced increases in genital arousal, subjective sexual arousal, and perceived genital sensations. These results provide preliminary support for the contribution of heart rate variability level to female sexual arousal function and for the use of either of these interventions in the treatment of sexual arousal concerns.

Mind-Body Interventions in Late-Life Mental Illnesses and Cognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review

Current pharmacological treatments and psychotherapeutic approaches often have adverse effects or are ineffective in late-life cognitive and mental illnesses. Mind-body interventions offer a holistic approach and are of interest because of potential patient acceptability and scalability. To synthesize current evidence on mind-body interventions in treating or preventing mental illnesses and cognitive disorders in older adults. A search was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO articles published from 1993 to 2017. 1) Randomized controlled trials, 2) involving older adults (>60 years old), 3) suffering from mental illness or cognitive decline, 4) comparing mind-body interventions with a control group. Mind-body interventions included: imagery, meditation, prayer, autogenic training, tai chi & variants, and yoga. Control group included: health education, other non-pharmacological interventions, treatment as usual, or no treatment at all. Data included number of patients, age, psychiatric diagnoses, type of intervention, frequency andduration, control conditions, outcomes measures and treatment results. 3916 articles were reviewed and ten met inclusion criteria. Six were on Tai Chi and four assessed meditation-based therapies. Clinically significant improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms were reported, as well as improvement insomedomains of cognition and reduced risk of cognitive deterioration. There is increasing evidence that mind-body interventions may potentially be useful in the treatment or prevention of geriatric mental illnesses and cognitive disorders. There are important methodological limitations of the current literature such as small sample sizes, heterogeneous study populations, and varying clinical outcomes.

Methodology and efficiency of the psychotherapeutic correction system of adaptation disorders of students

The aim: to develop a system of psychotherapeutic correction of adaptation disorders of medical university students.Materials and methods of research: to achieve the set aim with observance of the principles of bioethics and deontology, a comprehensive clinico-anamnestic, clinico-psychopathological and psycho-diagnostic examination of 412 students of both sexes, Kharkov National Medical University (KhNMU) at an average age of 18.0±2.0, 52.2 % of the surveyed (215 students) were residents of eastern Ukraine, 21.1 % (87 students) – residents of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions who entered the KhNMU at the beginning of the ATO and 26.7 % (110 students) internally displaced persons from the ATO zone.Research methods: clinical-psychopathological, psycho-diagnostic, statistical.Results. As the results of the study showed, the students-migrants from the ATO zone show a higher level of adaptation disorders, compared to students in eastern Ukraine and residents of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions who entered the KhNMU for education at the beginning of the ATO. We developed a system of psychotherapeutic correction of disadaptation conditions in students of the medical university which was aimed at overcoming adaptation disorders and potentiating adaptive personality mechanisms of students by revealing the pathogenetic nature of the conflict, determining the start of disadaptive reactions, processing the pathological behavior stereotype, forming a tendency to use constructive forms of coping, normalizing the system of emotional-volitional reaction, increasing self-esteem, activation of protective psychological mechanisms skill formation self psychological state. As shown by the results of dynamic observation against the background of the proposed system of psychotherapeutic correction of disadaptation states, the level of adaptation of students has significantly increased, anxiously depressive symptoms have been reduced, and the level of neuropsychic tension has become lowered. The obtained results of the research testified to the positive influence of psychotherapy on the optimization of the coping strategy of the problem-solving behavior of medical students.Conclusions. A system of psychotherapeutic correction of medical students' disadaptation conditions has been developed. This includes the use of rational psychotherapy (Dubois P., 1912), individual cognitive behavioral therapy (Beck A. T., 2006), autogenic training – psychotonic variant by A. M. Shogam, K. I. Mirovsky (1963) and art therapy using the techniques of "Drawing Yourself", "The Star of Senses". Sense-forming element of the developed system of psychotherapy is psychoeducation using information modules and training the formation of communicative skills and skills in solving problems of interpersonal interaction. Under the influence of psychotherapeutic correction of adaptation disorders, rapid reduction of anxious and depressive symptoms, normalization of emotional state, optimization of coping strategy of problem-solving behavior with predominance of coping of problem-oriented problem

Reconsideration of the verbal formulae of autogenic training

Reconsideration of the verbal formulae of autogenic training

Psychophysiological Responses to Cognitive and Physical Training in Obese Elderly

Objectives: Increasing prevalence rate of anxiety disorders in elderly populations especially due to physical limitations has become a key concern for health authorities. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the effects of cognitive and physical training on anxiety in the Elderly. Methods: 49 aged females (62.3 ± 2.6 years) with BMI of 35 - 49.99 kg/m2 were assigned to one of three groups: Cognitive (n = 17), yoga (n = 16) and control group (n = 16). The cognitive training protocol focusing on breathing techniques, autogenic training, imagery/visualization, included an 8-week period, three sessions a week. Yoga practices comprising Asana training, Pranaya training, and meditation were conducted 3 times a week, for 8 weeks. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was given before yoga practice and cognitive training. Biofeedback devices were used to monitor galvanic skin resistance and resting heart rate. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA test. Results: The results indicated that both cognitive and physical training had a significant difference on Anxiety in the training groups (P ≤ 0.05), while no significant change was found for control group (P ≥ 0.05). Furthermore, both training modes decreased the skin potential response (SPR) (P < 0.001). In addition, physical training group had lower resting heart rate after intervention compared to the cognitive and control groups (respectively, P = 0.04 and P = 0.001) lower heart rate and skin conductance level over the entire measurement period. Conclusions: It was concluded that the health benefits of yoga aren’t not specific to maintaining physical health, but also extends to lowering the anxiety in elderly with obesity. It was also suggested that cognitive training can mitigate the anxiety symptoms in the elderly while no physical changes were shown in cognitive training.

P24. Psychology of Monosynaptic T (tendon) and H (Hoffmann) Reflexes (MSR) – History, results and relevance

Soon after monosynaptic reflexes were discovered (Erb 1875, Westphal 1875) studies concerning supraspinal influences including psychophysiological effects were carried out. A survey of methods with some historical illustrations and results of experiments from nearly a century of research is given. Lombard (1887, AmJPsychol, vol. one) was the first to show tonic variations of the ‘knee jerk’ due to psychophysiological influences, whereas Bowditch and Warren (1890) showed phasic activation with sophisticated techniques, allowing short time registration within the range of 0 to about 2000 ms after different kinds of stimuli. Lee and Kleitmann (1923) and Tuttle (1924) investigated effects of sleep and sleep deprivation. Paillard (1955) introduced simultaneous registration of T and H reflexes of the triceps surae into psychophysiological research. T reflexes were more reactive than H reflexes, in general, but one proband could reduce T and even H reflexes in a kind of biofeedback when watching the oscilloscope. Bathien and his group (1969, 1971) found increased T and H reflexes under intense attention (rsp. increased H reflexes only with highest activation). Brunia (1970, 1971ff) described significant elevations only of T reflexes during a vigilance task, and variations under different other experimental conditions including drugs. Sczesni and Kröner (1985) registered changes of T reflexes (as well as GSR parameters) under task conditions an in relaxation in probands practicing Autogenic Training (AT) compared to naïve persons, but failed to prove differences between the groups. It was shown that eliciting MSR, which of course is slightly ‘invasive’, but monotonous, was not considerably disturbing. Considering patients’ states of activation in everyday clinical examination is relevant, but MSR studies were also useful in psychophysiological research. MSR are the first parameters used in psychophysiological studies (introduced even before electro dermal measures, SCL and GSR). Changes can represent tonic as well as phasic psychological influences on the spinal level. T-reflexes are more variable than H-reflexes, but the latter also react. The differences were explained by a higher reactiveness of γ than of α motoneurons to influences from the reticular formation. Psychophysiological MSR studies were no longer carried out in the recent years, presumably because of the vast technical equipment needed, rather than other limitations.

Muscle type temporomandibular disorders and orthodontics

With painful temporomandibular disorders, the physiotherapist treatment makes it possible to treat the pains and dysfunctions of the masticatory apparatus. When these are diagnosed before orthodontic treatment, it is necessary to treat them so that they do not interfere with the dentofacial orthopaedics treatment. In this perspective, lingual rehabilitation according to the method «Fournier» is associated with Schultz Autogenic Training.

010 Improvements in Perceived Genital Sensations and Sexual Arousal Following App-based Intervention: Preliminary Results Form a Randomized-controlled Trial

Low resting heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with poor sexual arousal function in women. Recently, a single session of autogenic training, an intervention shown to increase HRV, led to increases in both physiological and subjective sexual arousal and perceived genital sensations in women experiencing decreased arousal (Stanton, Hixon, Nichols, & Meston, under review). The current study expands upon these findings by examining the efficacy of HRV biofeedback, with and without autogenic training, for sexual arousal dysfunction in an at-home setting. Women with sexual arousal complaints were eligible to participate if they scored below the clinical cut-off for sexual function on the FSFI, endorsed generalized rather than situational deficits in arousal, and reported significant distress. Participants (N = 37) were randomized into one of three conditions: HRV biofeedback, HRV biofeedback + autogenic training condition, or waitlist control. Each condition included three laboratory sessions, spaced two weeks apart, during which both subjective sexual arousal and perceived genital sensations were measured. Participants in the two active conditions completed 4-6 biofeedback sessions at home between each laboratory visit using a Polar H7 strap and a mobile app. Participants in the HRVB+A condition listened to a 14-minute autogenic training recording before completing the biofeedback. Preliminary self-report data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVAs.

THE USE OF BIORITHMOLOGY AND RELAXATION IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IN THE PERSONS WITH LIFE DEFECTS

The urgency of the study is that during the centuries-long history of studying and treating stuttering, researchers have expressed different views about the nature of this speech disorder, its etiology, methods and techniques for treating stuttering children and adults. A healthy organism is determined by the stability of information links both between different functional systems of the organism, and in the middle of each system and subsystem. Indicators of stability of information interaction is the synchronization of their own oscillating processes, which have electromagnetic nature. Causes of stuttering are not exactly established and there is no single overcoming of this phenomenon. The purpose of the paper is to confirm the influence of the methods of biorhythmology and autogenous training outside the educational process on the discipline Speech therapy in people with speech defects (stuttering). Methods of research: development of rhythmic breathing in the system of Hatha Yoga. The first and main condition for the regulation of respiration is control of its rhythm. The measure for rhythmic breathing for Haha-Yoga is a normal heart beat. The frequency of heart rate (HR) in different people is unequal, everyone should know their pulse. The time from one pulse to the second is taken per unit of time. Such unit is measured by inhaling and breathing air. When this is achieved, we make our breathing conscious and controlled. This is the first and most important step in mastering Pranayama. The use of autogenous training and meditation based on the use of rhythmic breathing in the Hatha Yoga system. The rhythmic repetition of the slogan I am reliable! simultaneously with the rhythmic steps in the pace of the slogan's voice dubbing in hands (this technique is used when walking barefoot on hot-rolled coals). The assessment of the effect of the study was conducted on the scale of the main external physiological symptom of stuttering - convulsions during the speech act, their duration which in light cases ranges from 0.2 to 12.6 seconds. In severe cases, it reaches 90 seconds. Results of the research: it was established that during the 1,5-2 months of the use of the experimental method of training it was possible to completely eliminate stuttering from 3 persons. In what duration of convulsions is referred to an easy case. Of particular interest is the elimination of stuttering in a second-year student of the faculty of health and physical education, whose duration of seizures was attributed to a serious case at the end of the occupation, the state changed to a mild case.

EXAMINATION STRESS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS: PREVALENCE CAUSES AND PREVENTION

There was executed the study including the examination of 833 students of 2-6 courses of the medical University concerning their subjective rating of the stress level on exams, its causes and the measures they used to reduce stress. 26.7% of students noted the high level of stress on examination, there was significantly increased the number of students with low-stress levels in students оf 3-4 courses, boys, and students with good and excellent grades note significantly less a high level of examination stress. The most common manifestations of stress are changes in the cardiovascular system (62% of the students) and autonomic nervous systems (48.6%), these manifestations were significantly less noted in students with good and excellent grades. In the course of training, there was discovered the increase in complaints of the frequent urination, loose stools and discomfort or pain in the abdomen. The main causes of stress at exams, according to students, there are a large amount and difficulty of exam material and the insufficient addressing of examination tasks in the classroom. In the dynamics of training, there is a significant reduction in the number of students who believe early acquaintance with the exam questions to be important, the sufficiency of the time devoted to self-education and an increase in the number of students recognizing it is necessary to reduce the waiting time of the call to the exam. Most popular methods of the reducing examination stress on younger courses are the use of rites, superstitions, and drugs, in the senior years. A growing number of individuals using the techniques of autogenic training was discovered. 49.9% of students do not fight with stress. 63.9% of students consider the introduction of elective subjects of “Prevention and correction of examination stress in students” to be necessary.

Mental stress as consequence and cause of vision loss: the dawn of psychosomatic ophthalmology for preventive and personalized medicine.

The loss of vision after damage to the retina, optic nerve, or brain has often grave consequences in everyday life such as problems with recognizing faces, reading, or mobility. Because vision loss is considered to be irreversible and often progressive, patients experience continuous mental stress due to worries, anxiety, or fear with secondary consequences such as depression and social isolation. While prolonged mental stress is clearly a consequence of vision loss, it may also aggravate the situation. In fact, continuous stress and elevated cortisol levels negatively impact the eye and brain due to autonomous nervous system (sympathetic) imbalance and vascular dysregulation; hence stress may also be one of the major causes of visual system diseases such as glaucoma and optic neuropathy. Although stress is a known risk factor, its causal role in the development or progression of certain visual system disorders is not widely appreciated. This review of the literature discusses the relationship of stress and ophthalmological diseases. We conclude that stress is both consequence and cause of vision loss. This creates a vicious cycle of a downward spiral, in which initial vision loss creates stress which further accelerates vision loss, creating even more stress and so forth. This new psychosomatic perspective has several implications for clinical practice. Firstly, stress reduction and relaxation techniques (e.g., meditation, autogenic training, stress management training, and psychotherapy to learn to cope) should be recommended not only as complementary to traditional treatments of vision loss but possibly as preventive means to reduce progression of vision loss. Secondly, doctors should try their best to inculcate positivity and optimism in their patients while giving them the information the patients are entitled to, especially regarding the important value of stress reduction. In this way, the vicious cycle could be interrupted. More clinical studies are now needed to confirm the causal role of stress in different low vision diseases to evaluate the efficacy of different anti-stress therapies for preventing progression and improvingvision recovery and restoration in randomized trials as a foundation of psychosomatic ophthalmology.

Effects of physical therapy and relaxation techniques on the parameters of pain in university students with tension-type headache: A randomised controlled clinical trial

IntroductionNon-pharmacological treatments help control tension-type headache (TTH); however, evidence about their effectiveness is still limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness of physical therapy based on cervical spine kinesiotherapy and posture correction exercises compared to a programme of relaxation techniques only (Schultz's Autogenic Training, AT). MethodsTTH is very common among university students. We randomly selected 152 university students with a diagnosis of TTH according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. Eighty-four were women (55.3%) and 68 were men (44.7%). Mean age was 20.42±2.36 years. The study design is a randomised controlled trial of a non-pharmacological intervention with a blinded evaluation of response variables. We compared the results of two independent samples: AT was used in one of the groups while the other group received AT plus cervical spine kinesiotherapy and posture correction training. Patients recorded any changes in the parameters of pain (frequency, intensity, and duration) and drug consumption in a headache diary before treatment, at 4 weeks, and at 3 months. ResultsBoth interventions achieved a decrease in all the parameters of pain; however, decreases in frequency and intensity were more significant in the combined treatment group (P<0.01) (d=0.4). ConclusionsSuch active, non-invasive therapies as AT and cervical spine kinesiotherapy, and especially the combination of both, effectively reduce TTH by preventing and managing the potential psychophysical causes of this disorder. Future research should aim to assess the long-term effects of these interventions.