Document Detail


The effects of a brief relaxation program on symptom distress and heart rate variability in cancer patients.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20659719     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a 15-minute, one-time guided relaxation program for cancer patients could improve symptom distress as measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). In addition, we were interested in characterizing the changes of the autonomic nervous system, as demonstrated by heart rate variability (HRV) high-frequency (HF) spectral analysis, before and after this relaxation program. DESIGN: Nonrandomized pilot study. SETTING: Comprehensive cancer center. METHODS: Twenty cancer patients underwent a 15-minute relaxation program. The ESAS and a 5-minute HRV recording were completed before and after the relaxation program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The differences between the pre- and post-summed ESAS score and HRV values were compared by a paired t-test. RESULTS: The summed ESAS scores were significantly lower after the relaxation program (P<.01), with an average 31% decrease in total score. However, no differences were found in HRV HF power. There was no correlation between the change in HRV HF and change in symptom distress, as measured by ESAS. CONCLUSIONS: A brief guided relaxation program can significantly improve symptoms as measured by ESAS. More research is required to understand the effects of relaxation on HF HRV power.
Authors:
Arash Asher; J Lynn Palmer; Rajesh R Yadav; Syed W Yusuf; Benedict Konzen; Eduardo Bruera; Ying Guo
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation     Volume:  2     ISSN:  1934-1482     ISO Abbreviation:  PM R     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-27     Completed Date:  2010-10-19     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101491319     Medline TA:  PM R     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  636-41     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, C-2000, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. arash.asher@cshs.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Heart Rate / physiology*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms / physiopathology*,  psychology*
Pilot Projects
Relaxation Therapy*
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Stress, Psychological / prevention & control

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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