The effects of behavior therapy, self-relaxation, and transcendental meditation on cardiovascular stress response

Author: Puente AE//Beiman I
Conference/Journal: J Clin Psychol
Date published: 1980
Other: Volume ID: 36 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 291-5 , Special Notes: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial , Word Count: 76


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.