Irving Beiman

CEPHALIC VASOMOTOR AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC FEEDBACK IN THE TREATMENT OF COMBINED MUSCLE CONTRACTION AND MIGRAINE HEADACHES IN A GERIATRIC CASE

SYNOPSIS

Live versus recorded relaxation training: a controlled investigation

The effects of live (LR) and taped (TR) progressive relaxation training and self-relaxation (SR) were compared using measures of physiological arousal and subjective tension. Subjects were selected from respondents to newspaper ads that solicited tense people to participate in a therapy study. All treatments led to significant in-session reductions of physiological arousal (tonic heart rate, respiration rate, and muscle tension) with no difference between groups. All treatments led to significantly reduced levels of subjective tension, with LR resulting in significantly greater reductions than TR and SR. The results are discussed in light of previous research and clinical implications are noted.

The Effects of Behavior Therapy, Self-Relaxation, and Transcendental Meditation on Cardiovascular Stress Response.

Compared Behavior Therapy (BT), self-relaxation (SR), transcendental meditation (TM), and a waiting-list control group (WL) on measures of cardiovascular and subjective stress response. Male and female respondents (N = 60) to an ad for therapy were evaluated in assessment sessions before and after treatment. The results indicate that BT and SR were more effective than either TM or WL in reducing cardiovascular stress response. These data were interpreted as resulting from therapeutic suggestion and positively reinforced client progress.

The generality of the therapeutic effects of progressive relaxation training for essential hypertension

Abstract A client with essential hypertension was successfully treated with progressive relaxation training. Measures obtained outside the therapeutic setting indicated that during treatment there were generalized decreases to the normotensive range in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A ten-month follow-up revealed that these decreases were maintained in the clients natural environment.

Induced states of anxiety and depression: Effects on self-reported affect and tonic psychophysiological response

The present investigation was designed to measure the self-report and tonic psychophysiological response to induced mood states of anxiety and depression. Sixty female participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: anxiety, depression, or neutral. Anxiety-inducing self-statements led to significant increases in tonic heart rate and to significantly greater increases in state anxiety than did depression or neutral self-statements. The methodological advantages of this experimental paradigm are discussed, as well as the clinical implications for the conceptualization and treatment of disorders resulting from maladaptive physiological arousal.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment of the irritable colon syndrome

Behavioral techniques have been increasingly applied in recent years to the treatment of psychophysiological disorders. There have been only a few published reports of successful psychological treatment of the irritable colon syndrome (Cohen & Reed, 1968; Furman, 1973; Hedberg, 1973; Youell & McCullough, 1975). This is a disorder of the gastrointestinal system which is diagnosed by exclusion when the symptoms presented cannot be attributed to specific organic pathology. The syndrome typically includes some combination of periodic abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, dyspepsia, and nausea (Almy, 1973). The present case study involves a client with a long history of gastrointestinal problems. The case conceptualization and treatment were based on our clinical hypothesis that the physical symptoms were functionally related to the clients psychological response to the multiple stressors in his environment.

Self-control progressive relaxation training as an alternative nonpharmacological treatment for essential hypertension: Therapeutic effects in the natural environment.

Abstract Two clients with 3 and 5 1 2 yr history of essential hypertension were successfully treated using self-control progressive relaxation training (PRT). Blood pressure was self-recorded twice daily in the natural environment by each client. The natural environment blood pressures of both clients declined during treatment and stabilized within the normotensive range. Blood pressure reductions were maintained at six months follow-up for one client and two months for the other.

Validation of a self-report/behavioral subject selection procedure for analog fear research

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the validity of a two-stage selection procedure for analog fear research. The Mutilation Questionnaire and a new behavioral commitment screening procedure were used to identify 20 high-fear and 20 low-fear subjects. As predicted, high-fear subjects exhibited greater subjective discomfort and physiological responsiveness to slides of fearful stimuli than low-fear subjects. The results provided evidence of predictive validity for the two-stage selection procedure. Factors recommending to researchers the investigation of mutilation anxiety as an analog of clinical anxiety are discussed.

Progressive and Self-Induced Relaxation Training: Their Relative Effects on Subjective and Autonomic Arousal to Fearful Stimuli.

Compared progressive relaxation training (PRT), self-induced relaxation training (SRT), and a rest quietly (RQ) control condition on measures of tonic physiological arousal and phasic physiological and subjective reactions to fearful stimuli. The Mutilation Anxiety Questionnaire was used to identify 48 male and female participants for the two training assessment sessions. Evaluation of tonic reductions in sympathetic arousal indicated: In session one, PRT and SRT were equivalent; in session two, PRT was superior to SRT. Evaluation of subjective response to fearful stimuli favored PRT/SRT over RQ for low, moderately stressful stimuli; PRT was superior to SRT for the most stressful stimuli. An analysis of reported practice between sessions indicated a negative relationship between practice of relaxation skills and response to stressful tonic physiological arousal and attenuating subjective response to stressful stimuli. The interaction between the cognitive and physiological systems and its implication for therapy are discussed.

The application of multiple behavioral techniques to multiple problems of a complex case

Abstract A systematic approach to the behavioral treatment of complex cases with multiple problems is presented. The approach was applied to a client with problems of: uncertain vocational goals; inadequate social skills; unassertiveness; fear of crowded places; marital difficulty; and public-speaking phobia. Treatment was successful in all six problem areas. At a 14-month follow-up the client reported continued improvement in all areas.