Progressive muscle relaxation improves anxiety and depression of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

Yunping Li; Ranran Wang; Jingqun Tang; Chen Chen; Ling Tan; Zhongshi Wu; Fenglei Yu; Xiang Wang

doi:10.1155/2015/792895

Progressive muscle relaxation improves anxiety and depression of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015:2015:792895. doi: 10.1155/2015/792895. Epub 2015 Apr 1.

Authors

Yunping Li¹, Ranran Wang², Jingqun Tang², Chen Chen², Ling Tan², Zhongshi Wu³, Fenglei Yu², Xiang Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
² Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
³ Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
⁴ Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China ; Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China ; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410011, China ; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Ministry of Health, Changsha 410011, China.

Abstract

We explored the effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). One hundred and thirty Han Chinese patients with PAH were randomly assigned to a PMR group (n = 65) and a control group (n = 65). In a 12-week study duration, the PMR group received hospital-based group and in-home PMR practice, while the control group received hospital-based mild group stretching and balance exercises. The control group and the PMR group were comparable at baseline. After 12 weeks of intervention, the PMR group showed significant improvement in anxiety, depression, overall QOL, and the mental component summary score of QOL (P < 0.05) but not the physical component summary score of QOL or the 6-minute walking distance. In contrast, the control group showed no significant improvement in any of the variables. Moreover, the PMR group showed significant improvement in all QOL mental health domains (P < 0.05) but not the physical health domains. In contrast, the control group showed no significant improvement in any QOL domain. In conclusion, this study suggests that PMR practice is effective in improving anxiety, depression, and the mental health components of QOL in patients with PAH.