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University students were at an increased risk for psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a randomized controlled trial, we examined the efficacy of an online Kundalini Yoga intervention on students' psychological functioning. Healthy university students (N = 106) were randomly assigned to a Kundalini Yoga group, an active control group, or a passive control group in a 1:1:1 ratio. The experimental group attended six Yoga sessions over 6 weeks and the active control group attended to six autogenic relaxation sessions over 6 weeks. All participants completed the study protocol, which involved answering questionnaires related to psychological distress, emotion regulation, self-compassion, self-concept, spiritual well-being, and subjective happiness at three different time points: baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. Results showed that Yoga contributed to improving self-compassion, extrinsic affect improving, and personal and communal spiritual well-being, in comparison to the control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stretching is widely used in sports and physiotherapy for improving flexibility, performance, and lowering the risk of injury. Recent research re-evaluated the effects and underlying mechanisms of stretching, challenging the belief that muscles would elongate. Currently, two main mechanisms are supported by evidence, (a) an altered sensation leading to a greater tolerance to stretch, and (b) changes in the viscoelastic properties of muscle tissue. Similar effects on the nervous system and muscles have been observed following relaxation therapy. Besides somatic effects, relaxation techniques have shown psychological effects, especially on stress and stress-related symptoms. Possible correlations between psychological relaxation and muscle flexibility have not been scientifically evaluated. The aim of this study was to pilot a study design to evaluate possible effects of Autogenic Training on functional flexibility, muscle activity, and muscle stiffness as well as perceived stress. Twelve female participants (age: 23 ± 2) were randomly assigned to the relaxation (n = 6) or the stress group (n = 6). The relaxation group conducted the exercise the heaviness from the "Autogenic Training" relaxation therapy, while the stress group completed the "Montreal Imaging Stress Task", a standardized stress induction protocol. Perceived stress, flexibility, activation, and stiffness of the hamstring muscles were measured before and after the interventions. Measurements consisted of the "Perceived Stress Questionnaire", the "Toe Touch Test", the "Passive Straight Leg Raise Test", the normalized amplitude of surface electromyography, and the shear modulus of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles. From baseline to post assessment perceived stress decreased significantly in the relaxation group, (p = 0.027), while perceived stress increased in the stress group, (p = 0.028). The relaxation group demonstrated a significant increase in functional flexibility measured with the "Toe Touch Test", (p = 0.046), while the stress group showed no significant changes in any of the measures. There was no statistically significant correlation between perceived stress and the other outcome measures. No changes of muscle stiffness or activation in the hamstring muscles were detected. Autogenic training appears to be a promising intervention to reduce perceived stress and improve functional flexibility in movements such as toe touching. In future research, the effects of long-term relaxation programs on flexibility should be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep is critical for health, cognition, and restorative processes, and yet, many experience chronic sleep restriction. Sleep interventions have been designed to enhance overnight sleep quality and physiology. Components of these interventions, like relaxation-based progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), have been studied in isolation and have shown direct effects on sleep architecture, including increasing time in restorative, slow-wave sleep (SWS). These relaxation methods have been understudied in naps, which are effective fatigue countermeasures that reduce deleterious effects of chronic sleep restriction. We hypothesised that PMR should boost SWS in a nap, as compared to an active control. We used a between-subject design in which healthy young adults underwent PMR training or listened to Mozart music (control) prior to a 90-min nap opportunity. We assessed changes in the amount and lateralisation of SWS, as evidence suggests left hemispheric lateralisation may be a proxy for recuperative sleep needs, and changes to state-dependent anxiety and fatigue before and after the nap to assess intervention success. We found PMR participants spent ~10 min more in SWS, equivalent to 125% more time, than the control group, and concomitantly, significantly less time in rapid eye movement sleep. PMR participants also had greater right lateralised slow-wave activity and delta activity compared to the control suggesting a more well-rested brain profile during sleep. Further, pre-sleep anxiety levels predicted nap architecture in the intervention group, suggesting benefits may be impacted by anxiety. The feasibility and accessibility of PMR prior to a nap make this an interesting research avenue to pursue with strong translational application.

The article explores the development of autogenic training for the correction of psychophysical states using artificial intelligence tools. The research aims to organise the application areas of artificial intelligence for diagnosis and correction of psychophysical states through autogenic training. The results indicate that autogenic training is an important approach in the spectrum of treatment methods for psychophysical disorders, with its main advantages being the flexibility of the technique and its ability to induce relaxation and psychophysiological self-regulation through passive concentration and repetition of specific phrases. The analysis shows that while the practice is stable and consists of sequential procedures, it can be adapted to different techniques and needs. Here, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly improve the personalisation of the treatment process and its effectiveness. The application of AI in the context of autogenic training opens up new perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of psychophysical disorders. AI can optimise psychotherapeutic interventions by adapting training sessions to the individual needs of the user, thereby achieving better results in relaxation and psychophysical recovery. A distinctive feature of AI is also its ability to provide detailed feedback and track user progress, contributing to more effective adjustment and improvement of the training process. The integration of AI with virtual and augmented reality technologies can further enhance the autogenic training experience, creating a more immersive and controlled environment for relaxation. The development of digital tools and mobile applications based on AI has already demonstrated its positive impact on the psychophysical health of users, paving the way for more innovative and effective solutions in the future. Thus, the use of AI in autogenic training for the correction of psychophysiological states promises significant prospects for improving the quality of life and well-being of individuals.

Background: Diabetes is a common chronic disease that causes many physical and mental injuries. Sexual dysfunction is one of the common consequences of diabetes in women, which has many negative consequences for the patient. On the other hand, stress can be an effective factor in aggravating sexual disorders. Regarding the effectiveness of interventions based on stress management such as autogenic training and stress reduction training based on mindfulness on the sexual performance of type 2 diabetic patients, there is a research gap in comparing the effectiveness of these two training methods. Aims: The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of autogenic training and mindfulness-based stress reduction training on sexual performance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The current research design was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all women with type 2 diabetes referred to Kasra Hospital in Tehran in 1400, 45 of them were selected by purposeful sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 people in each group). The Female Sexual Function Index (Tyler et al., 1994) was used to collect data. For the first experimental group, 10 autogenic training sessions (MirzamohammadAlaeini et al., 2021) and for the second experimental group, 8 sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction training (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) were implemented, While the control group did not receive any intervention. Analysis of covariance and SPSS24 software were used for data analysis. Results: Based on the findings, the effect of the educational interventions on the post-test scores of the sexual performance of the members of both experimental groups was significant, so that after the intervention, the scores of the sexual performance increased significantly (P

Background: Diabetes is a common chronic disease that causes many physical and mental injuries. Sexual dysfunction is one of the common consequences of diabetes in women, which has many negative consequences for the patient. On the other hand, stress can be an effective factor in aggravating sexual disorders. Regarding the effectiveness of interventions based on stress management such as autogenic training and stress reduction training based on mindfulness on the sexual performance of type 2 diabetic patients, there is a research gap in comparing the effectiveness of these two training methods. Aims: The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of autogenic training and mindfulness-based stress reduction training on sexual performance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The current research design was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all women with type 2 diabetes referred to Kasra Hospital in Tehran in 1400, 45 of them were selected by purposeful sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 people in each group). The Female Sexual Function Index (Tyler et al., 1994) was used to collect data. For the first experimental group, 10 autogenic training sessions (MirzamohammadAlaeini et al., 2021) and for the second experimental group, 8 sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction training (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) were implemented, While the control group did not receive any intervention. Analysis of covariance and SPSS24 software were used for data analysis. Results: Based on the findings, the effect of the educational interventions on the post-test scores of the sexual performance of the members of both experimental groups was significant, so that after the intervention, the scores of the sexual performance increased significantly (P<0.05). The results of Bonferroni's post hoc test also showed that the post-test scores of sexual performance in the experimental groups have increased significantly compared to the control group. Also, mindfulness-based stress reduction training has been more effective compared to autogenic training (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results obtained in the present study, which confirm the effectiveness of stress reduction training methods based on mindfulness and autogenic training, in reducing the stress level of diabetic women, it is suggested that psychologists and psychiatrists use the mentioned training methods to improve the sexual performance of women with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides some general information about hypnosuggestive therapy, the author's highlighted models of therapeutic interventions in the hypnotic state: hypnosuggestive programming and modeling, hypnocatharsis, movement on the time scale (age regression, regressive hypnosis, age progression). The author's own data and his recommendations on the use of hypnosuggestive therapy for the correction of hypoactive sexual desire, as well as the experience of other specialists in this field, are presented. It is reported that the approaches of the hypnosuggestive therapy models listed above can be used to correct such a craving. Various recommendations on the use of autogenic training for the correction of weakened sexual desire are also given, including the use of the accelerated version of autogenic training proposed by the author for the treatment of sexual disorders. A characterization of focal psychodynamic therapy and the possibility of using it to correct hypoactive sexual desire is also given. This method of therapy is also referred to as brief (short-term) psychodynamic therapy. Within this therapy, which belongs to the psychoanalytic direction, the focus is understood as a specific problem on which the efforts and attention of both the patient and the therapist are concentrated during the sessions. This therapy is not aimed at restructuring the patient's personality as a whole, but at solving one problem or a limited their numbers that the patient suffers from in a short period of time. The possibility of using "extended" psychodynamic therapy, covering a large time period, for the correction of weakened sexual desire is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in Indonesia is 54.89%. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) exercises have proven to decrease the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Nowadays, the android application can be widely accessed anywhere and anytime, thus saving time and costs. There has never been a study that applies PMR, especially android-based dysmenorrhoea. Objective: The current study aimed to develop the PURE App, a PMR exercise android-based application, and to test the effectiveness of reducing the menstrual pain score of adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea. Method: This study conducted Research and Development (R&D), which consists of 4 stages, namely information collection, application design, expert validation and revision, and trial. Result: The PURE App has five features, ranging from pain screening to exercise. The trial results showed that the PURE App application effectively reduced menstrual pain in adolescents with dysmenorrhea. The treatment decreased pain score from 4.48±0.71 to 1.98±1.49 in the treatment group (p

Background: A growing body of literature shows that psychological distress is not only a major threat to psychological well-being but can also have a significant impact on physical health. In cancer patients, it can negatively affect prognosis and posttreatment recovery processes. Since face-to-face psychological interventions are often inaccessible to cancer patients, researchers have recently been focusing on the effectiveness of eHealth adaptations of well-established approaches. In this context, there has been a call for high-quality randomised controlled trials that would allow for a direct comparison of different approaches, potentially addressing different needs and preferences of patients, and also for more systematic research focusing on how psychological interventions affect not only psychological but also biological markers of stress. Both of these questions are addressed in the present study. Methods: A randomised controlled trial will be carried out to test and compare the effectiveness of three eight-week eHealth programmes for the mental health support of cancer patients. All programmes will be delivered through the same application for mobile devices MOU MindCare. N = 440 of breast cancer survivors will be recruited at the end of their adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both) and randomly assigned to one of the three interventions – Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer (MBCT-Ca), Positive Psychology (PP), or Autogenic Training (AT) – or the treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group. Psychological and biological markers of stress and adaptive functioning will be assessed at baseline (T0), post-treatment (T1), three-month follow-up (T2), and nine-month follow-up (T3). Primary outcomes will include heart-rate variability and self-report measures of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, general quality of life, and positive mental health. Secondary outcomes will include the levels of serum cortisol and immunomarkers, sleep quality, fatigue, common health symptoms, and several transdiagnostic psychological variables that are expected to be specifically affected by the MBCT-Ca and PP interventions, including dispositional mindfulness, emotion regulation, self-compassion, perceived hope, and gratitude. The data will be analysed using the mixed model repeated measures (MMRM) approach. Discussion: This trial is unique in comparing three different eHealth interventions for cancer patients based on three well-established approaches to mental health support delivered on the same platform. The study will allow us to examine whether different types of interventions affect different indicators of mental health. In addition, it will provide valuable data regarding the effects of stress-reducing psychological interventions on the biomarkers of stress playing an essential role in cancer recovery processes and general health.

The self-concept is an unparalleled part of one's personalitywhether that encompasses a child or an adult. Much work is being done to study different strategies to bring effective change in one's selfconcept to improve overall functioning. The main objective of this paper is to review the current scenario of how self-hypnosis can alter and improve self-concept. It shall study the key areas under self-hypnosis, and components of self-concept. Further it will propose how future research in this area could be applied to develop training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Various mind-body practices are used by people living with HIV to promote their general well-being. Among these is autogenic training (AT), a self-guided relaxation technique requiring regular practice for observable benefits. However, little has been written about the process of learning this technique, which is obviously a prerequisite to regular practice. This study therefore aims to describe the process by which people living with HIV learn AT. Methods The study is a descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis with a mixed approach. Fourteen participants living with HIV completed sessions to learn autogenic training over a period of 3 months. Results The process of learning AT was approached through three themes: initiating the learning process, taking ownership of the technique, and observing its benefits on wellness. To initiate learning, participants had to express a need to take action on an aspect of their well-being and their openness to complementary approaches to care. Taking ownership of the technique was facilitated by guidance from the nurse researcher, the participants’ personal adaptations to overcome barriers to their practice, regular practice, and rapid observation of its benefits. Finally, the participants reported the observation of benefits on their wellness, including personal development, mainly in terms of the creative self, the essential self, and the coping self. This perception of the technique’s benefits was part of the learning process, as it contributed both to the participants’ ownership of the technique and to reinforcing their AT practice. Conclusions People living with HIV see learning AT as a progressive process, in which wellness is a major outcome and a contributing factor in developing a regular practice.

Background: Autogenic training (AT) is frequently used as therapeutic approach in multimodal pain therapy. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the efficacy of AT in individuals suffering from chronic pain in comparison to passive and active control groups. Methods: A comprehensive literature search in Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and PubPsych and manual searches (last search April 7, 2021) were conducted to locate randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Treatment guidelines and references of relevant articles and previous reviews were checked. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Full Text database, DART-Europe E-theses Portal, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), and the Theses Database of the German National Library were screened to identify any unpublished material. Results: A total of 13 eligible studies (k = 15 comparisons) including 576 participants were identified. Random-effects meta-analyses revealed a significantly positive, moderate effect of AT on the primary outcome pain compared to passive control groups (g = 0.58, 95% CI [0.36; 0.79], k = 9, I2 = 0%). In comparison with other psychological interventions, no difference was found (g = − 0.05, 95% CI [− 0.30; 0.20], k = 6, I2 = 0%). Sensitivity analyses proved the robustness of findings. Overall risk-of-bias judgment was 'some concerns' in the majority of studies. Conclusions: Beneficial effects of AT on pain reduction were demonstrated, but findings are prone to bias. Furthermore, high methodological quality RCTs are needed to strengthen the promising evidence of AT for individuals with chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurse burnout could affect nurse's professional competence. Either physical or emotional burnout was related to an ineffective individual coping and emotional intelligence. The nurse burnout could be coped with a direct intervention on the individuals who practically focused on the mind and body system. Purposes: This research was aimed to identify the effects of mind and body-based therapies (MBT and PMR) for nurse burnout. Methods: This research was quasi-experimental with two groups pretest-posttest design. The sample of this study was 50 nurses in the medical-surgical wards who were divided into intervention MBT and PMR with a simple random sampling technique. Collecting data using burnout syndrome measurements on nurses applied pre and post-intervention, which was analyzed by Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test. Results: The mean value of the burnout subscale decreased significantly (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization) and increased (personal accomplishment) after the MBT and PMR programs (p0.05). Conclusions: Mind body-based therapies (MBT and PMR) could reduce burnout syndrome significantly.

Objective: To establish the effectiveness of relaxation and related therapies in treating Multiple Sclerosis related symptoms and sequelae. Data Sources: PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global databases were searched. Methods: We included studies from database inception until 31 December 2021 involving adult participants diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or disseminated sclerosis, which featured quantitative data regarding the impact of relaxation interventions on multiple sclerosis-related symptoms and sequelae. Studies which examined multi-modal therapies - relaxation delivered in combination with non-relaxation interventions - were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Risk of Bias tool for randomised trials – ROB2, Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions ROBINS-I), and within and between-group effects were calculated (Hedges' g). Results: Twenty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-three of these were randomised controlled trials, with 1246 total participants. This review reports on this data, with non-randomised study data reported in supplemental material. Post –intervention relaxation was associated with medium to large effect-size improvement for depression, anxiety, stress and fatigue. The effects of relaxation were superior to wait-list or no treatment control conditions; however, comparisons with established psychological or physical therapies were mixed. Individual studies reported sustained effects (≤ 6 months) with relaxation for stress, pain and quality of life. Most studies were rated as having a high/serious risk of bias. Conclusion: There is emerging evidence that relaxation therapies can improve outcomes for persons with multiple sclerosis. Given the high risk of bias found for included studies, stronger conclusions cannot be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various mind-body practices are used by people living with HIV to promote their general well-being. Among these is autogenic training (AT), a self-guided relaxation technique requiring regular practice for observable benefits. However, little has been written about the process of learning this technique, which is obviously a prerequisite to regular practice. This study therefore aims to describe the process by which people living with HIV learn AT. Methods: The study is a descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis with a mixed approach. Fourteen participants living with HIV completed sessions to learn autogenic training over a period of 3 months. Results: The process of learning AT was approached through three themes: initiating the learning process, taking ownership of the technique, and observing its benefits on wellness. To initiate learning, participants had to express a need to take action on an aspect of their well-being and their openness to complementary approaches to care. Taking ownership of the technique was facilitated by guidance from the nurse researcher, the participants' personal adaptations to overcome barriers to their practice, regular practice, and rapid observation of its benefits. Finally, the participants reported the observation of benefits on their wellness, including personal development, mainly in terms of the creative self, the essential self, and the coping self. This perception of the technique's benefits was part of the learning process, as it contributed both to the participants' ownership of the technique and to reinforcing their AT practice. Conclusions: People living with HIV see learning AT as a progressive process, in which wellness is a major outcome and a contributing factor in developing a regular practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article scrutinises the issue of application of innovative technologies in physical education from the neuropsychological perspective. It has been found that physical education is inseparable from neuropsychology. The content of the concepts: "physical education", "innovation", "innovative activity", "technologies", "pedagogical innovations", "neuropsychology" is studied. It is emphasized that innovative educational activity is supported by regulatory documents. It is emphasized that physical education affects not only the motor activity of individuals, but also personal spiritual and social development. It has been investigated that the contemporary innovative technologies are focused on improving the educational process, the use of new teaching methods for creative, active cooperation between the teacher and the student. The essence of cooperative, problematic, practice-oriented learning, active teaching methods is highlighted. The focus is made on constructivism. It has been studied that speech is an indicator of the activity of different regions of the brain. The use of aerobic exercises as a tool to improve plasticity and function of the hippocampus is considered. Running has been shown to help think clearly, make correct and informed decisions. The essence of autogenic training is considered. The benefits of kinesiological exercises for mental and physical health have been studied. Attention is paid to strengthening and maintaining the health of children with special needs. It has been found that development of information and communication technologies has contributed to the emergence of modern mobile applications that increase students' motivation to care for their health, improve functionality and mobility, help monitor their health. The benefits of exercises that are modelledin virtual reality have been studied, inasmuch as they optimize motor skills, involve motivational, cognitive, sensory processes in dynamic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several factors can contribute to the development and chronification of migraines, including stress, which is undoubtedly a major trigger. Beyond pharmacotherapy, other treatment methods also exist, including behavioral techniques aiming at reducing patients' stress response. However, the exact brain mechanisms underlying the efficacy of such methods are poorly understood. Our pilot study examined whether the regular practice of autogenic training (AT) induces functional brain changes and if so, how it could be associated with the improvement of migraine parameters. By exploring neural changes through which AT exerts its effect, we can get closer to the pathomechanism of migraine. In particular, we investigated the effect of a headache-specific AT on brain activation using an implicit face emotion processing functional MRI (fMRI) task in female subjects with and without episodic migraine. Our focus was on migraine- and psychological stress-related brain regions. After a 16-week training course, migraineurs showed decreased activation in the migraine-associated dorsal pons to fearful compared with neutral visual stimuli. We also detected decreasing differences in supplementary motor area (SMA) activation to fearful stimuli, and in posterior insula activation to happy stimuli between healthy subjects and migraineurs. Furthermore, migraineurs reported significantly less migraine attacks. These brain activation changes suggest that AT may influence the activity of brain regions responsible for emotion perception, emotional and motor response integration, as well as cognitive control, while also being able to diminish the activation of regions that have an active role in migraine attacks. Improvements induced by the training and the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are additional arguments in favor of evidence-based personalized behavioral therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explores the mechanism by which the physiological changes that occur in junior wrestlers during the trainings and competitions can be controlled and directed toward a decrease of tension at the somatic level. In particular, the aim of the study is to investigate the usefulness of the autogenic training in modifying the neurovegetative balance and in improving the coping mechanisms, the self-efficacy and the positive posttraining emotions. In order to test the research model, we analyzed data collected from junior wrestlers (N=12) and other categories of adolescents (judo group, N=12 and adolescents from the school population, N=13). The results prove the positive influence of the autogenic training in the development of junior wrestlers and show that they are involved in the decision to generate psychological changes both with competitive effects and in everyday life. In conclusion, changes between the pretest and the posttest occur in the case of the group of junior wrestlers who were taught autogenic training to improve competitive performance. We see an increase in the frequency of positive emotions and self-efficacy and a decrease in negative emotions and aggressiveness. Hostility as a cognitive variable has a declining trend, as well as the refrain from action as a coping mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The change in the benzodiazepine (BZD) use of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) following the application of relaxation therapy were examined. Methods Of the 221 outpatients with MUS using BZD, 42 received relaxation therapy. Change in BZD use was compared using a relaxation group (n = 42) and a control group that had 84 MUS patients whose baseline was matched by optimal matching algorithms. Logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the effect of BZD-dependent factors on the BZD dose of the relaxation group. Results Compared with the control group, the number of patients who decreased the amount of BZD and the number of patients whose subjective symptoms of MUS improved were significantly higher in the relaxation group (p

Abstract Background Autogenic training is a relaxation technique that uses systematic exercises to induce a general disconnection of the organism. It is used in conjunction with conventional medical care as part of disease management to relieve symptoms associated with chronic health problems and to improve well-being. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of autogenic training on psychological well-being, quality of life, and adverse effects in people living with chronic physical health problems. Methods The methodology used follows the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Studies, published up to December 31, 2019, will be identified through searches in the following databases: MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, SCOPUS, PsychINFO, CINAHL, EBM Reviews, Google Scholar, Dissertations & Theses Global, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, OpenGrey, E-Theses Online Service, Grey Literature Report, eScholarship@McGill, Papyrus, and CorpusUL. All studies of randomized controlled trials that assess autogenic training as an intervention to improve psychological well-being and quality of life in adults aged 18 and older living with one or more chronic physical health problem will be considered eligible. The study selection, the data collection, and the evaluation of the risk of bias will be conducted independently and in duplicate by two reviewers. RoB 2 tool will be used to assess the risk of bias. Discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. A tabular and narrative synthesis of data is planned, and a meta-analysis will be done according to the quality of data. The primary outcomes will be general psychological distress, depression, and anxiety, and the secondary outcomes will be quality of life and adverse effects. The present protocol of systematic review is reporting following MECIR standards for the reporting of protocols and the PRISMA-P recommendations. Discussion Autogenic training appears to be a promising therapy to improve psychological well-being and quality of life in people living with chronic physical health problems, but no recent reports have synthesized the available evidence in this population. The results of this review will examine and synthesize the evidence on the benefits and harms of autogenic training on psychological well-being and quality of life in people living with chronic physical health problems, thus supporting the development of best practices for complementary approaches. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42018105347 .

Background: Hemodialysis is a kidney replacement therapy, but it has many complications identified, one of them is pain. Thus, we need non-pharmacological interventions that can be done by nurses, among them is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), which is economically-efficient and no side effects. Objective: To determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on pain in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This is a quasi experimental design of time series design. The number of samples was 100 patients taken by simple random sampling. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) was given every day for 4 weeks. Research instrument applied was Brief Pain Inventory. The data analysis employed independent t-test. Results: There was a decrease in pain level from week to week after the intervention, from the scale of 6 (moderate pain) to scale 3 (mild pain). There was a difference in the level of pain between the intervention group and the control group p

Several factors can contribute to the development and chronification of migraines, including stress, which is undoubtedly a major trigger. Beyond pharmacotherapy, other treatment methods also exist, including behavioral techniques aiming at reducing patients’ stress response. However, the exact brain mechanisms underlying the efficacy of such methods are poorly understood. Our pilot study examined whether the regular practice of autogenic training (AT) induces functional brain changes and if so, how it could be associated with the improvement of migraine parameters. By exploring neural changes through which AT exerts its effect, we can get closer to the pathomechanism of migraine. In particular, we investigated the effect of a headache-specific AT on brain activation using an implicit face emotion processing functional MRI (fMRI) task in female subjects with and without episodic migraine. Our focus was on migraine- and psychological stress-related brain regions. After a 16-week training course, migraineurs showed decreased activation in the migraine-associated dorsal pons to fearful compared with neutral visual stimuli. We also detected decreasing differences in supplementary motor area (SMA) activation to fearful stimuli, and in posterior insula activation to happy stimuli between healthy subjects and migraineurs. Furthermore, migraineurs reported significantly less migraine attacks. These brain activation changes suggest that AT may influence the activity of brain regions responsible for emotion perception, emotional and motor response integration, as well as cognitive control, while also being able to diminish the activation of regions that have an active role in migraine attacks. Improvements induced by the training and the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are additional arguments in favor of evidence-based personalized behavioral therapies.

Object: Sleep problems often accompany ADHD and negatively affect ADHD symptoms, however, there are not enough intervention studies on sleep interventions in children with ADHD. The present study investigated the effects of sleep hygiene training (SH) and progressive muscle relaxation exercises (PMR) in children with ADHD., Method: 57 children aged 6-12 years with ADHD were randomly assigned to the SH and SH + PMR groups and completed the intervention consisting of group training and eight weeks of telephone interviews. The effects of both intervenitons were evaluated via parent, child and clinician report scales and neuropsychological tests., Results: Both interventions resulted in significant positive changes in child sleep, ADHD symptoms, functioning, neuropsychological tests and parental sleep quality. Significant differences were found between the interventions in selective attention, peer problems and anxiety scores in favor of the SH + PMR group., Conclusion: SH may have positive effects on various clinical parameters as well as sleep problems in children with ADHD. Addition of PMR to SH may lead to further improvements in anxiety, peer problems and selective attention. SH and PMR may be a useful tool in the clinical management of children with ADHD with sleep problems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have no conflicts of interest that may affect the findings. Also, we did not receive any funding for our work. We hope you will find our work worth reviewing and publishing., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

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Abstract Background There have been many reports on the treatment effect of cochlear implantation and hearing aids in the treatment of tinnitus in patients with severe hearing loss. However, as far as we are aware, there are no reports of investigation of treatment approaches for the tinnitus of deaf patients whose communication is solely carried out in sign language due to a long duration of deafness. Case presentation We experienced a case of severe tinnitus with bilateral deafness for more than 50 years. The patient is a 69-year-old woman who communicates with her family solely in sign language. Family stress triggered the onset of tinnitus, accompanied by sleep disorder and palpitations. At the initial visit, she suffered from severe tinnitus (THI 94) as well as strong tendencies toward depression and anxiety. Because neither the patient nor her family was willing to use cochlear implantation, the administration of an antidepressant and a sleep-inducing agent was started, which resulted in improvement of the psychological conditions. Tinnitus distress, synchronized with the heartbeat, was relieved by the addition of autogenic training. At four and half years after the initial visit, the THI score had dropped to 0, and the subjective tinnitus and palpitation had almost disappeared, with only a low dose of antidepressant necessary. Conclusion A deaf patient with severe tinnitus was successfully treated with drug and psychotherapy.

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and autogenic training (AT) are effective relaxation techniques to reduce depressive symptoms. However, no studies on their effectiveness have been conducted among people living with HIV and depressive symptoms. The primary aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PMR and AT interventions among people living with HIV who have depressive symptoms. A secondary aim was to assess the potential effectiveness of these interventions on depressive symptoms and quality of life. This study was a three-arm pilot randomized control trial with mixed methods. Participants were randomized to PMR, AT, or a control group (CG), with four assessments (baseline, and at one, three, and six months). The PMR and AT interventions consisted of six 1 h sessions of individual training over 12 weeks, plus home practice. Recruitment, attrition, and completion rates were calculated. Depressive symptoms and quality of life were assessed at all times. Participants' perceptions of the interventions were collected in semi-structured interviews. Following the screening, 54/63 people met the inclusion criteria, and 42/54 were randomly allocated to the PMR group (n=14), AT group (n=14), and CG (n=14). Six participants (43%; 95% CI 18–71%) in the PMR group and 10 (71%; 95% CI 42–92%) in the AT group completed the intervention. Participants reported better emotion management and improvements in depressive symptoms and quality of life. The pilot study suggests that a randomized trial to test the effectiveness of these interventions is feasible. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01901016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mind-body interventions may support the development of adolescents’ self-regulation and provide a protective effect against maladaptive outcomes, e.g., internalizing and externalizing problems. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of mindfulness-oriented meditation training (MOM) and autogenic training (AT) on a group of healthy Italian adolescents’ character dimensions, emotional and behavioral difficulties. Methods: 72 adolescents were randomly assigned to MOM/AT conditions and tested before and after the 8-week trainings through self-report measures (Temperament and Character Inventory 125, TCI; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for Adolescents, SDQ-A). Main analyses involved robust and repeated measures ANOVAs, carried out separately for character TCI and SDQ-A scales. Results: After trainings, we found increased levels of cooperativeness and reduced emotional symptoms. Changes in these dimensions were negatively correlated: the more participants increased in their cooperativeness the greater decrease they showed in emotional symptoms. Conclusion: Both MOM and AT enhanced a cooperative attitude in adolescents and helped reducing their emotional problems. Therefore, it may be useful to apply these mind-body interventions in school settings as they can have a protective effect on the well-being and psychosocial adjustment of youths, through fostering their character maturity and helping them to better regulate their emotions.