Psychological methods in treatment of hypertension: a review.

Abstract

The precise mechanism of therapeutic effects cannot be determined without measurements of variables other than blood pressure. Changes may occur in diet, exercise, smoking and adherence to drug regimens, and these can lead to blood pressure reductions. Complete alterations in life style were anecdotally reported by initiates into meditational practices, but few studies have recorded such behavioral data. Biofeedback and instructional methods cannot be used in the same way as drug treatments, where the patient participates passively. These methods of treatment challenge patients to be the principal agents of treatment, and will not be effective without active involvement. Psychological treatments will probably be appropriate for only a proportion of hypertensives, and research into the identification of responsive individuals is required. For these people, methods of the type reviewed may make a valuable contribution to the long-term management of high blood pressure.