Short‐term generalised effects of relaxation training on adults with moderate and severe mental handicaps

Abstract

Over the past few years there has been an increasing interest in the treatments for anxiety in people with mental handicaps. Some authors have found poor results in using relaxation treatments with this client group but the present authors have adapted and developed techniques which have shown excellent immediate effects. The present study investigated the generalised effects of two forms of relaxation training: Behaviour Relaxation Training (BRT) and Abbreviated Progressive Relaxation (APR). Both were found to produce reductions in anxiety at times of the day other than those in which treatment was being conducted. BRT produced quicker effects, but although people receiving this form of treatment showed less anxiety than those receiving APR, these differences were not significant by the end of treatment and at follow-up. It was concluded that both treatments can be effective in helping people with mental handicaps reduce their anxiety outside of treatment sessions.