ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To see whether cognitive behaviour therapy improves blood pressure-oriented latrophobia in adults to manage white coat hypertension. METHODS: Present study was conducted at the Kidney Centre, Sialkot, Pakistan from December 2017 to November 2018, and comprised latrophobic attendees of kidney patients without initially exploring the reason of phobia. Either of the intervention or control group was allotted, randomly. The intervention group underwent 20 weekly sessions of the therapy. Pre- and posttherapy systolic blood pressure (at home and medical clinic) of both the groups was recorded alongside self-perceived level of phobia in subjects of only treatment group. RESULTS: Of 30 subjects of intervention group, 22 (73.3%) completed the therapy. However, control (N = 30) stayed intact. Age statistics were, as: M = 38.2, SD = 11.8, range 20-56 years with male predominance. Moreover, 12 (54.4%) or 20 (90.9%) of them reported severe latrophobia or onset of phobia after childhood, respectively. After therapy, 17 (77.3%) subjects communicated improvement in fear. A significant decline in mean systolic blood pressure was noted in pre- to posttherapy record (149 vs.142 mm of Hg, respectively; t(21)= 8.829, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Generally, cognitive behaviour therapy improves blood pressure-oriented latrophobia in adults.
