Behavioral Relaxation Training (BRT)¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 4 claims (1 for, 3 mixed) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 4 claims rest on one study

Description¶

Behavioral Relaxation Training (BRT; Poppen, 1998) is a behavioral intervention for anxiety that, per the article, "does not require tense release muscle activities." It has been "successfully used with patients with PD and essen tial tremor" in prior work, making it suitable for patients whose motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease complicate standard relaxation procedures. In this study it was described to participants as a non-drug treatment for GAD and rated more acceptable than medication.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Does not require tense-release muscle activities, making it usable with patients with motor impairment

Constraints¶

• The article notes no specific information regarding risks and effectiveness of relaxation was provided to raters in this study

Target Learners¶

• older adults with Parkinson's disease and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder

Target Learning Goals¶

• managing anxiety symptoms through relaxation skills

Claims¶

• No significant interaction between age group and treatment type in acceptability ratings [~W]
• Demographic and psychiatric-history variables are largely unrelated to treatment acceptability, with counseling history the exception [~W]
• Younger and older adults do not differ in treatment acceptability ratings for GAD with Parkinson's disease [~W]
• Behavioral Relaxation Training is rated more acceptable than medication for GAD comorbid with Parkinson's disease by both younger and older adults [+W]

Related Elements¶

• Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile (AARP)

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Lundervold, D. A., Ament, P. A., Holt, P. S., & Hunt, L. S. (2013). Comparison of Younger and Older Adults' Acceptability of Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Co-Occurring with Parkinson's Disease. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 8(2). https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/1555-7855