The Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy in Patients With Schizophrenia

The Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy in Patients With Schizophrenia: Randomized Controlled Trials

This study applied a randomized parallel case-controlled design. The study purpose was to evaluate the effects of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety, psychiatric symptoms and quality of life among patients with chronic schizophrenia compared with an active control.

Background: Anti-psychotic drugs are limited in their ability to improve psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and anxiety status in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) can potentially reduce anxiety status and improve subjective welling in acute patients. It is an ideal rehabilitation intervention for patients with chronic schizophrenia. However, no study has investigated the effects of PMR on outcomes among patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Design: This study applied a randomized parallel case-controlled design.

Methods: Hospital-based randomized control trial in Taiwan. Eighty subjects with chronic schizophrenia were recruited from a psychotic ward and randomized into PMR, or control groups. Patients in the intervention group participated in progressive muscle relaxation for 12 weeks; while patients in the control group members received supportive treatment-as-usual (TAU). All participants completed anxiety, psychotic syndromes and quality of life measures at baseline, 3-month, and 3-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of Schizophrenia
• Without the risk of self-injury and violence
• Patients aged from 20-65 years old
• Had no alcohol and drug abuse
• Can use Mandarin or Taiwanese to communicate

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with another psychiatric comorbidity
• Patients with musculoskeletal problems
• patients who cannot sit last for 50 minutes
• Had received progressive muscle relaxation training within the last year
• Diagnosis of confirmed cardiovascular disease