ABSTRACT
Asthma is characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness, inflammation, and reversible obstruction. Respiratory tract infection, allergies, air pollution, and psychosocial factors impact the severity and frequency of asthma symptoms. Pharmacotherapy and self-care are the major components in the management of asthma, but behavioral interventions also have the potential to affect asthma morbidity. We conducted a small, randomized controlled study, examining the effects of biofeedback-assisted relaxation in 16 nonsmokers with nonsteroid-dependent mild asthma. Data were collected on asthma symptoms, pulmonary function, indicators of arousal, and cellular immune factors. The trained group evidenced a decrease in forehead muscle tension in comparison to the controls, but no changes in peripheral skin temperature. Decreases in asthma severity and bronchodilator medication usage for the experimental group were observed. Pulmonary function testing revealed a significant difference between groups in FEV1/FVC at posttest, with the E group having a higher ratio than the controls. The cellular immune data showed no significant group differences in total white blood cell or lymphocyte counts, but decreases over time were observed. Significant differences were observed in the numbers of neutrophils and basophils in the trained group compared to controls, which supports the concept of decreased inflammation. Results of delayed-type hypersensitivity skin testing suggested enhanced function, but they were not conclusive. These findings, though limited by size of population, suggest a positive effect of biofeedback-assisted relaxation in young, nonsteroid-dependent asthmatics. The mechanisms underlying linkages between psychological, behavioral, and immune responses in asthma require further study.
Subject(s)
Arousal , Asthma/therapy , Biofeedback, Psychology , Immunity, Cellular , Relaxation Therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Asthma/immunology , Asthma/psychology , Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Health , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Preliminary evidence exists through single case reports that psychophysiological interventions may be useful in the treatment of syncope (fainting). To explore this possibility, a case series of ten patients with histories of recurrent unexplained syncope or near syncope, headache, and a poor response to or tolerance for medication was performed. All patients were treated with electromyographic, thermal, biofeedback as well as progressive and autogenic relaxation. Six of the ten patients showed a major decrease in symptoms at the end of treatment. Descriptive comparisons between the improved and unimproved group were made and a detailed case study of one improved patient is presented. The results suggested that biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment was most effective in younger patients whose syncope was associated with a strong psychophysiological response and whose headaches were intermittent, not daily occurrences.
Subject(s)
Biofeedback, Psychology , Headache/therapy , Relaxation Therapy , Syncope, Vasovagal/therapy , Adolescent , Arousal/physiology , Autogenic Training , Biofeedback, Psychology/physiology , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Headache/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Psychophysiology , Syncope, Vasovagal/physiopathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Psychological stress can have profound disruptive effects upon glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. Presented here is a case study in which biofeedback-assisted relaxation techniques were used to help a young woman with a 10-year history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to more effectively manage stress, thereby improving glycemic control. Hypoglycemia is a frequently encountered problem with this technique, so the patient was taught to identify causes of hypoglycemic episodes and to take action to prevent their occurrence. The team approach of a diabetes nurse educator working in conjunction with a biofeedback therapist was vital to the success of this program.
Subject(s)
Biofeedback, Psychology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/nursing , Relaxation Therapy , Stress, Psychological/therapy , Adult , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications , Female , Humans , Nurse Clinicians , Nursing Assessment , Patient Care Planning , Stress, Psychological/etiologyABSTRACT
Treatment of stress induced syncope is described, using a relaxation based behavioral approach with a male client with a long history of syncope. The client learned to interrupt the presyncopal phase and thus to prevent syncope in stressful situations. The rationale for use of this new application of relaxation training is discussed.
Subject(s)
Relaxation Therapy , Stress, Psychological/complications , Syncope/therapy , Adult , Biofeedback, Psychology , Combined Modality Therapy , Desensitization, Psychologic , Electromyography , Humans , Male , PsychotherapyABSTRACT
Many forms of stress, including psychological, can affect male fertility and reproduction. The autonomic nervous system and the adrenal hormones participate in the classic stress response while also affecting the reproductive system. Evidence exists that mild-to-severe emotional stress depresses testosterone and perhaps interferes with spermatogenesis in the human male. There are difficulties, however, in attributing individual cases of infertility to psychological factors without evidence of psychopathology. In animals social stress, high altitude, surgery, and immobilization stress affect body weight, testosterone levels, and copulatory behavior with variable effects on testicular morphology. Stress applied to the pregnant rat also affects the development and sexual behavior of the male offspring. This literature is reviewed and discussed in terms of the usefulness of animal models and suggested future research.
Subject(s)
Infertility, Male/psychology , Stress, Psychological/physiopathology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adrenal Glands/physiology , Animals , Blood-Testis Barrier , Humans , Infertility, Male/etiology , Male , Neurotransmitter Agents/physiology , Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology , Species Specificity , Spermatogenesis , Stress, Psychological/complications , Testosterone/blood , Testosterone/physiologyABSTRACT
Male rats were immobilized for 2 hr/day, 5 days a week, for varying periods of time (7-31 days) to assess the effects of stress on the reproductive system. Mice were immobilized for 25-38 days. The effectiveness of the stress was demonstrated by assessing the adrenal and body weight. Adrenal weights were significantly increased (p less than .05--t-test) compared to controls. Body weights were decreased compared to controls. No consistent change was noticed in the testicular weight and progressive motility of the spermatozoa drawn from the cauda epididymis and vas deferens. There were no deleterious effects of immobilization stress on the morphology of the differentiating germ cells, peritubular wall, and the interstitial tissues of the testis.
Subject(s)
Stress, Physiological/pathology , Testis/pathology , Animals , Immobilization , Male , Mice , Organ Size , Rats , Rats, Inbred StrainsABSTRACT
The cardiac glycoside, ouabain, exerts its influence on spermatozoa by binding to and inhibiting Mg2+-activated Na+, K+-dependent ATPase that is located in the midpiece-tail membranes. Ouabain decreased intracellular potassium, increased intracellular sodium, and produced a biphasic and time-dependent effect on motility--stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. The motility depression consisted of decreases in numbers of motile cells, percent progressive motility, beat frequency, and amplitude. Species differences and maturational age of the sperm cells were reflected in the degree of the ouabain effect and also the distribution of the ouabain-sensitive enzyme. The presence of this enzyme in spermatozoan membranes contributes significantly to regulation of sperm cell function through modulation of cationic fluxes which in "conventional" cell types influence their excitability.
Subject(s)
Ouabain/pharmacology , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Animals , Magnesium/metabolism , Male , Membrane Potentials , Potassium/metabolism , Semen Preservation , Sodium/metabolism , Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase/antagonists & inhibitors , Species Specificity , Sperm Maturation , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Sperm Tail/enzymologyABSTRACT
The effect of EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation on blood pressure and selected biochemical parameters was evaluated in 38 patients with essential hypertension. Training consisted of 8 weeks of biofeedback and home practice of relaxation exercises. Mean blood pressure decreased in the experimental group from 144/90 to 133/84 mm Hg while the control group remained unchanged. Statistically significant decreases in the experimental group also occurred in muscle tension levels, in plasma aldosterone, and in urinary cortisol. Both aldosterone and cortisol are secreted by the adrenal cortex. It was concluded that the technique taught to the experimental group produced a reduction in skeletal muscle tension and a decrease in stress responding mediated by the adrenal cortex.
Subject(s)
Biofeedback, Psychology , Blood Pressure , Hypertension/therapy , Relaxation Therapy , Adrenal Cortex/metabolism , Adult , Aldosterone/blood , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/urine , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
PIP: The effects of physostigmine, a competitive inhibitor of cholinester ases, BW 284C51, a specific and reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, RO 20683, an inhibitor of nonspecific cholinestera se, acetylcholine and butyrylcholine on the pattern of the flagellar wave and beat frequency, velocity and amplitude of bull and chimpanzee spermatozoa was studied by cinematography. The amplitude of the wave pattern was affected only by BW 284C51. Overall, the variations in frequency and wave pattern were more pronounced than changes in amplitude or velocity. Physotigmine disrupted the coordination of the wave pattern. The results demonstrate the importance of the acetylcholine-acetylcholinesterase system in the regulation of spermatozoan motility.^ieng
