Relaxation training for anxiety: a ten-years systematic review with meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Relaxation training is a common treatment for anxiety problems. Lacking is a recent quantitative meta-analysis that enhances understanding of the variability and clinical significance of anxiety reduction outcomes after relaxation treatment. METHODS: All studies (1997-2007), both RCT, observational and without control group, evaluating the efficacy of relaxation training (Jacobson's progressive relaxation, autogenic training, applied relaxation and meditation) for anxiety problems and disorders were identified by comprehensive electronic searches with Pubmed, Psychinfo and Cochrane Registers, by checking references of relevant studies and of other reviews. Our primary outcome was anxiety measured with psychometric questionnaires. Meta-analysis was undertaken synthesizing the data from all trials, distinguishing within and between effect sizes. RESULTS: 27 studies qualified for the inclusion in the meta-analysis. As hypothesized, relaxation training showed a medium-large effect size in the treatment of anxiety. Cohen's d was .57 (95% CI: .52 to .68) in the within analysis and .51 (95% CI: .46 to .634) in the between group analysis. Efficacy was higher for meditation, among volunteers and for longer treatments. Implications and limitations are discussed. CONCLUSION: The results show consistent and significant efficacy of relaxation training in reducing anxiety. This meta-analysis extends the existing literature through facilitation of a better understanding of the variability and clinical significance of anxiety improvement subsequent to relaxation training.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Evidence-based interventions for anxiety include components of CBT-psychoeducation, relaxation training, cognitive therapy, exposure-alone or in combination, as well as PST, ACT, and mindfulness.
“Evidence-based interventions for anxiety include components of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-psychoeducation (Donker et al., 2009), relaxation training (Manzoni et al., 2008), cognitive therapy (Norton & Price, 2007), exposure (Norton & Price, 2007)-alone or in combination, as well as Problem-Solving Therapy (PST; Zhang et al., 2019), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Swain et a”
From Barriers to and Facilitators of Using Evidence-Based, Cognitive–Behavioral Anxiety Interventions in Integrated Primary Care Practice (2023) · cites this paper as Manzoni et al., 2008
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P. (1983) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x · Cited by 47,139 · see citing works
An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric properties.
Beck, A. T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R. A. (1988) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.56.6.893 · Cited by 14,407 · see citing works
The file drawer problem and tolerance for null results.
Rosenthal, R. (1979) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.86.3.638 · Cited by 9,068 · see citing works
The combination of estimates from different experiments
Cochran, W. G. (1954) · Biometrics · doi:10.2307/3001666 · Cited by 5,380 · see citing works
Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation
Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, S. F., Urbanowski, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., & Sheridan, J. F. (2003) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000077505.67574.e3 · Cited by 2,925 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Study N° Subjects N° Controls Mean Age % Women Country Type of training Type of Subjects Instrument Individual/ group Homework Duration Session Effect size BT Effect size WT * Kanji, White,& Ernst [16] 30 29 64,5 36,7 UK Autogenic Training Patients undergoing coronary angioplasty Stai – State anxiety Group Yes 2 Month…”
BackgroundA Fail-Safe N for Effect Size in Meta-Analysis
Orwin, R. G. (1983) · Journal of Educational Statistics · doi:10.2307/1164923 · Cited by 2,064 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The fail-safe N [42] for ES was also calculated.”
MethodMykletun, A., Stordal, E., & Dahl, A. A. (2001) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.179.6.540 · Cited by 908 · see citing works
Clark, D. M., Ehlers, A., Hackmann, A., McManus, F., Fennell, M., Grey, N., Waddington, L., & Wild, J. (2006) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.74.3.568 · Cited by 603 · see citing works
Deckro, G. R., Ballinger, K. M., Hoyt, M., Wilcher, M., Dusek, J., Myers, P., Greenberg, B., Rosenthal, D. S., & Benson, H. (2002) · Journal of American College Health · doi:10.1080/07448480209603446 · Cited by 353 · see citing works
Cognitive and sedative effects of benzodiazepine use
Buffett-Jerrott, S., & Stewart, S. (2002) · Current Pharmaceutical Design · doi:10.2174/1381612023396654 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
Finucane, A., & Mercer, S. W. (2006) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/1471-244x-6-14 · Cited by 308 · cited 2× · see citing works
“For example, Finucane and Mercer [34] applied Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in an 8-week course that integrates mindfulness meditation practices and cognitive theory to patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety, finding a great average reduction of anxiety, as well as depressi…”
Applied relaxation vs. cognitive therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder
Öst, L.-G., & Breitholtz, E. (2000) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(99)00095-9 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
Boyce, P. M., Talley, N. J., Balaam, B., Koloski, N. A., & Truman, G. (2003) · American Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07716.x · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Pawlow, L. A., O'Neil, P. M., & Malcolm, R. J. (2003) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802320 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Cognitive therapy versus applied relaxation as treatment of generalized anxiety disorder
Arntz, A. (2003) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(02)00045-1 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Psychological Treatments for Social Phobia
Rowa, K., & Antony, M. M. (2005) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674370505000603 · Cited by 65 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Many studies have been conducted that have shown a positive clinical outcome of the relaxation techniques in connection with anxiety [17-26].”
Background
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 50
- Somers JM Goldner EM Waraich P Hsu L Prevalence and incidence studies of anxiety disorders: a systematic review of the literature Can J Psychiatry 2006 51 2006/09/23 100 113 16989109
- Balon R Mood, anxiety, and physical illness: body and mind, or mind and body? Depress Anxiety 2006 23 2006/07/11 377 387 16823859 10.1002/da.20217 · DOI
- Muller JE Koen L Stein DJ Anxiety and medical disorders Curr Psychiatry Rep 2005 7 2005/08/16 245 251 16098277 10.1007/s11920-005-0077-5 · DOI
- Sanderson K Tilse E Nicholson J Oldenburg B Graves N Which presenteeism measures are more sensitive to depression and anxiety? J Affect Disord 2007 101 65 74 17156851 10.1016/j.jad.2006.10.024 · DOI
- Krannich JH Weyers P Lueger S Herzog M Bohrer T Elert O Presence of depression and anxiety before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and their relationship to age BMC Psychiatry 2007 7 2007/09/14 47 17850655 10.1186/1471-244X-7-47 PMC2034548 · DOI
- Snaith RP The Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale Health Qual Life Outcomes 2003 1 2003/08/14 29 12914662 10.1186/1477-7525-1-29 PMC183845 · DOI · Paper page
- Krisanaprakornkit T Krisanaprakornkit W Piyavhatkul N Laopaiboon M Meditation therapy for anxiety disorders Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 2006/01/27 CD004998 16437509 PMC13418076
- Youngstedt SD Kripke DF Does bright light have anxiolytic effects? - an open trial BMC Psychiatry 2007 7 2007/11/01 62 17971237 10.1186/1471-244X-7-62 PMC2194679 · DOI
- Struzik L Vermani M Coonerty-Femiano A Katzman MA Treatments for generalized anxiety disorder Expert Rev Neurother 2004 4 2005/04/28 285 294 15853570 10.1586/14737175.4.2.285 · DOI
- Segraves RT Sexual side-effects of psychiatric drugs Int J Psychiatry Med 1988 18 1988/01/01 243 252 2905696 10.2190/FL1D-RCW5-2XYN-89LR · DOI
- Segraves RT Psychiatric drugs and inhibited female orgasm J Sex Marital Ther 1988 14 1988/01/01 202 207 2902230
- Barrows KA Jacobs BP Mind-body medicine. An introduction and review of the literature Med Clin North Am 2002 86 2002/01/25 11 31 11795084 10.1016/S0025-7125(03)00069-5 · DOI
- Esch T Fricchione GL Stefano GB The therapeutic use of the relaxation response in stress-related diseases Med Sci Monit 2003 9 2003/02/26 RA23 34 12601303
- Kanji N White AR Ernst E Autogenic training reduces anxiety after coronary angioplasty: a randomized clinical trial Am Heart J 2004 147 2004/03/05 E10 14999212 10.1016/j.ahj.2003.10.011 · DOI
- Cheung YL Molassiotis A Chang AM A pilot study on the effect of progressive muscle relaxation training of patients after stoma surgery Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2001 10 2002/02/07 107 114 11829043 10.1046/j.1365-2354.2001.00256.x · DOI
- Huntley A White AR Ernst E Relaxation therapies for asthma: a systematic review Thorax 2002 57 127 131 11828041 10.1136/thorax.57.2.127 PMC1746244 · DOI
- Lundgren J Carlsson SG Berggren U Relaxation versus cognitive therapies for dental fear--a psychophysiological approach Health Psychol 2006 25 2006/05/25 267 273 16719597 10.1037/0278-6133.25.3.267 · DOI
- Pawlow LA Jones GE The impact of abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation on salivary cortisol Biol Psychol 2002 60 2002/07/09 1 16 12100842 10.1016/S0301-0511(02)00010-8 · DOI
- Roykulcharoen V Good M Systematic relaxation to relieve postoperative pain J Adv Nurs 2004 48 2004/09/17 140 148 15369494 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03181.x · DOI
- Yung PM Fung MY Chan TM Lau BW Relaxation training methods for nurse managers in Hong Kong: a controlled study Int J Ment Health Nurs 2004 13 2005/01/22 255 261 15660594 10.1111/j.1445-8330.2004.00342.x · DOI
- Linden W Autogenic training: a narrative and quantitative review of clinical outcome Biofeedback Self Regul 1994 19 1994/09/01 227 264 7811786 10.1007/BF01721069 · DOI
- Stetter F Kupper S Autogenic training: a meta-analysis of clinical outcome studies Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2002 27 2002/05/11 45 98 12001885 10.1023/A:1014576505223 · DOI
- Kanji N Ernst E Autogenic training for stress and anxiety: a systematic review Complement Ther Med 2000 8 2000/06/22 106 110 10859603 10.1054/ctim.2000.0354 · DOI
- Carlson CR Hoyle RH Efficacy of abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation training: a quantitative review of behavioral medicine research J Consult Clin Psychol 1993 61 1993/12/01 1059 1067 8113484 10.1037/0022-006X.61.6.1059 · DOI
- Jacobson E Progressive Relaxation 1938 Chicago, University of Chicago Press
- Eppley KR Abrams AI Shear J Differential effects of relaxation techniques on trait anxiety: a meta-analysis J Clin Psychol 1989 45 1989/11/01 957 974 2693491 10.1002/1097-4679(198911)45:6<957::AID-JCLP2270450622>3.0.CO;2-Q · DOI
- Arias AJ Steinberg K Banga A Trestman RL Systematic review of the efficacy of meditation techniques as treatments for medical illness J Altern Complement Med 2006 12 2006/10/13 817 832 17034289 10.1089/acm.2006.12.817 · DOI
- Spielberger CD Gorsuch RL Lushene RE Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory 1970 Palo Alto, CA, Consulting Psychologists Press
- Costantini M Musso M Viterbori P Bonci F Del Mastro L Garrone O Venturini M Morasso G Detecting psychological distress in cancer patients: validity of the Italian version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Support Care Cancer 1999 7 1999/05/21 121 127 10335929 10.1007/s005200050241 · DOI
- Hedges LV Olkin I Statistical methods for meta-analysis 1985 New York, Academic Press
- Bernstein DA Borkovec TD Progressive Relaxation Training: A Manual for the Helping Professions 1973 Champaign, Illinois, Research Press
- Poppen R Behavioral relaxation training and assessment 1998 2nd Thousand Oaks, California, SAGE publications, Inc.
- Elliott SA Brown JS What are we doing to waiting list controls? Behav Res Ther 2002 40 2002/09/26 1047 1052 12296489 10.1016/S0005-7967(01)00082-1 · DOI
- Blanchard EB Nicholson NL Taylor AE Steffek BD Radnitz CL Appelbaum KA The role of regular home practice in the relaxation treatment of tension headache J Consult Clin Psychol 1991 59 1991/06/01 467 470 2071733 10.1037/0022-006X.59.3.467 · DOI
- Tomioka M Kubo C Group autogenic training in psychosomatic medicine: A pretreatment interview reduces the dropout rate Int Congr Series 2006 1287 235 239 10.1016/j.ics.2005.12.048 · DOI
- McComb JJ Clopton JR The effects of movement, relaxation, and education on the stress levels of women with subclinical levels of bulimia Eat Behav 2003 4 2004/03/06 79 88 15000989 10.1016/S1471-0153(02)00094-6 · DOI
- Knowlton GE Larkin KT The influence of voice volume, pitch, and speech rate on progressive relaxation training: application of methods from speech pathology and audiology Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2006 31 2006/08/31 173 185 16941239 10.1007/s10484-006-9014-6 · DOI
- Wachholtz AB Pargament KI Is spirituality a critical ingredient of meditation? Comparing the effects of spiritual meditation, secular meditation, and relaxation on spiritual, psychological, cardiac, and pain outcomes J Behav Med 2005 28 2005/07/29 369 384 16049627 10.1007/s10865-005-9008-5 · DOI · Paper page
- Bagheri-Nesami M Mohseni-Bandpei MA Shayesteh-Azar M The effect of Benson Relaxation Technique on rheumatoid arthritis patients: extended report Int J Nurs Pract 2006 12 2006/07/13 214 219 16834582 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00568.x · DOI
- Rasid ZM Parish TS The effects of two types of relaxation training on students' levels of anxiety Adolescence 1998 33 1998/05/16 99 101 9583663
- Wright S Courtney U Crowther D A quantitative and qualitative pilot study of the perceived benefits of autogenic training for a group of people with cancer Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2002 11 2002/07/09 122 130 12099948 10.1046/j.1365-2354.2002.00307.x · DOI
- Norton M Holm JE McSherry WC 2nd Behavioral assessment of relaxation: the validity of a Behavioral Rating Scale J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 1997 28 129 137 9194010 10.1016/S0005-7916(97)00004-9 · DOI
- Carlbring P Ekselius L Andersson G Treatment of panic disorder via the Internet: a randomized trial of CBT vs. applied relaxation J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2003 34 2003/08/06 129 140 12899896 10.1016/S0005-7916(03)00026-0 · DOI · Paper page
- Muhlberger A Herrmann MJ Wiedemann GC Ellgring H Pauli P Repeated exposure of flight phobics to flights in virtual reality Behav Res Ther 2001 39 2001/08/25 1033 1050 11520010 10.1016/S0005-7967(00)00076-0 · DOI
- Viens M De Koninck J Mercier P St-Onge M Lorrain D Trait anxiety and sleep-onset insomnia: evaluation of treatment using anxiety management training J Psychosom Res 2003 54 2002/12/31 31 37 12505553 10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00568-8 · DOI
- Lukins R Davan IG Drummond PD A cognitive behavioural approach to preventing anxiety during magnetic resonance imaging J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 1997 28 1997/06/01 97 104 9194006 10.1016/S0005-7916(97)00006-2 · DOI
- Kominars KD A study of visualization and addiction treatment J Subst Abuse Treat 1997 14 1997/05/01 213 223 9306297 10.1016/S0740-5472(96)00068-2 · DOI
- Engel L Andersen LB Effects of body-mind training and relaxation stretching on persons with chronic toxic encephalopathy Patient Educ Couns 2000 39 2000/10/21 155 161 11040714 10.1016/S0738-3991(99)00017-8 · DOI
- Jablon SL Naliboff BD Gilmore SL Rosenthal MJ Effects of relaxation training on glucose tolerance and diabetic control in type II diabetes Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 1997 22 1998/01/16 155 169 9428966 10.1023/A:1026259725197 · DOI
- Lowe B Breining K Wilke S Wellmann R Zipfel S Eich W Quantitative and Qualitative Effects of Feldenkrais, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and Standard Medical Treatment in Patients After Acute Myocardial Infarction Psychother Res 2002 12 179 191 10.1093/ptr/12.2.179 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Mental Health Smartphone Apps: Review and Evidence-Based Recommendations for Future Developments
Bakker, D., Kazantzis, N., Rickwood, D., & Rickard, N. (2016) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/mental.4984 · Cited by 886 · see citing works
Baldwin, D. S., Anderson, I. M., Nutt, D. J., Allgulander, C., Bandelow, B., den Boer, J. A., Christmas, D. M., Davies, S., Fineberg, N., Lidbetter, N., et al. (2014) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881114525674 · Cited by 676 · see citing works
Computer‐Aided Psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Meta‐Analytic Review
Cuijpers, P., Marks, I. M., van Straten, A., Cavanagh, K., Gega, L., & Andersson, G. (2009) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506070802694776 · Cited by 429 · see citing works
The Effect of Exercise Training on Anxiety Symptoms Among Patients: A Systematic Review
Herring, M. P. (2010) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.530 · Cited by 446 · see citing works
Twohig, M. P., Hayes, S. C., Plumb, J. C., Pruitt, L. D., Collins, A. B., Hazlett-Stevens, H., & Woidneck, M. R. (2010) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0020508 · Cited by 434 · see citing works
Ecological disasters and mental Health: Causes, consequences, and interventions
Morganstein, J. C., & Ursano, R. J. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00001 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Toussaint, L., Nguyen, Q. A., Roettger, C., Dixon, K., Offenbächer, M., Kohls, N., Hirsch, J., & Sirois, F. (2021) · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2021/5924040 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Chen, K. W., Berger, C. C., Manheimer, E., Forde, D., Magidson, J., Dachman, L., & Lejuez, C. W. (2012) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.21964 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder
McKay, D., Sookman, D., Neziroglu, F., Wilhelm, S., Stein, D. J., Kyrios, M., Matthews, K., & Veale, D. (2015) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.058 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
de Vibe, M., Bjørndal, A., Tipton, E., Hammerstrøm, K., & Kowalski, K. (2012) · Campbell Systematic Reviews: Better Evidence for a Better World · doi:10.4073/csr.2012.3 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Mindfulness and acceptance approaches to sporting performance enhancement: a systematic review.
Noetel, M., Ciarrochi, J., Van Zanden, B., & Lonsdale, C. (2019) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2017.1387803 · Cited by 243 · see citing works
deVibe, M., Bjørndal, A., Fattah, S., Dyrdal, G. M., Halland, E., & Tanner-Smith, E. E. (2017) · Campbell Systematic Reviews: Better Evidence for a Better World · doi:10.4073/csr.2017.11 · Cited by 198 · see citing works
Veale, D., Anson, M., Miles, S., Pieta, M., Costa, A., & Ellison, N. (2014) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000360740 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Arch, J. J., & Craske, M. G. (2010) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.02.005 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Gaggioli, A., Pallavicini, F., Morganti, L., Serino, S., Scaratti, C., Briguglio, M., Crifaci, G., Vetrano, N., Giulintano, A., Bernava, G., et al. (2014) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.3235 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Amutio, A., Martínez-Taboada, C., Hermosilla, D., & Delgado, L. C. (2015) · Psychology, Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2014.986143 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
A Pilot Evaluation of a Mindful Self-care and Resiliency (MSCR) Intervention for Nurses
Craigie, M., Slatyer, S., Hegney, D., Osseiran-Moisson, R., Gentry, E., Davis, S., Dolan, T., & Rees, C. (2016) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0516-x · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Accortt, E. E., & Wong, M. S. (2017) · Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey · doi:10.1097/ogx.0000000000000477 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Josefsson, T., Lindwall, M., & Broberg, A. G. (2014) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-012-0142-1 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
The Efficacy of Hypnosis as a Treatment for Anxiety: <i>A Meta-Analysis</i>
Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J., & Moriarty, C. L. (2019) · International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis · doi:10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Youth With Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Borquist-Conlon, D. S., Maynard, B. R., Brendel, K. E., & Farina, A. S. J. (2019) · Research on Social Work Practice · doi:10.1177/1049731516684961 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Nordin, L., & Rorsman, I. (2012) · Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine · doi:10.2340/16501977-0898 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Randomized trial comparing mindfulness training for smokers to a matched control
Davis, J. M., Manley, A. R., Goldberg, S. B., Smith, S. S., & Jorenby, D. E. (2014) · Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment · doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2014.04.005 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Nwebube, C., Glover, V., & Stewart, L. (2017) · BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1759-3 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Volpato, E., Banfi, P., Rogers, S. M., & Pagnini, F. (2015) · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2015/628365 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Self-citationWielgus, B., Urban, W., Patriak, A., & Cichocki, Ł. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17238764 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
“Similarly, different relaxation techniques affect psychological outcomes by decreasing anxiety and depression symptoms [57,58].”
BackgroundRandomized Controlled Trial of Inner Resources Meditation for Family Dementia Caregivers
Waelde, L. C., Meyer, H., Thompson, J. M., Thompson, L., & Gallagher‐Thompson, D. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.22470 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Freeman, D., Lister, R., Waite, F., Galal, U., Yu, L.-M., Lambe, S., Beckley, A., Bold, E., Jenner, L., Diamond, R., et al. (2023) · The Lancet Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00257-2 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Psychobiological changes from relaxation response elicitation: long-term practitioners vs. novices.
Chang, B.-H., Dusek, J. A., & Benson, H. (2011) · Psychosomatics · doi:10.1016/j.psym.2011.05.001 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Beukes, E. W., Andersson, G., Fagelson, M. A., & Manchaiah, V. (2021) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2021.100402 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
“Applied relaxation has proven effectiveness for various disorders associated with tinnitus, such as anxiety (Kim and Kim, 2018; Manzoni et al., 2008), and thus applied relaxation may serve as an integral part of tinnitus therapy.”
BackgroundRelaxation training after stroke: potential to reduce anxiety
Kneebone, I., Walker-Samuel, N., Swanston, J., & Otto, E. (2014) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.3109/09638288.2013.808275 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Weidt, S., Klaghofer, R., Kuenburg, A., Bruehl, A. B., Delsignore, A., Moritz, S., & Rufer, M. (2015) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000431290 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Eco-Anxiety and the Responses of Ecological Citizenship and Mindfulness
Bourban, M. (2023) · Environmental Politics and Theory · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-14346-5_4 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Trkulja, V., & Barić, H. (2020) · Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology · doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_22 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Morriss, J. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106138 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Shepardson, R. L., Funderburk, J. S., & Weisberg, R. B. (2016) · Families, Systems, & Health · doi:10.1037/fsh0000175 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Bostani, S., Rambod, M., Irani, P. S., & Torabizadeh, C. (2020) · International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.ijans.2020.100218 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Exercise for the Management of Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders
Herring, M. P. (2018) · Exercise-Based Interventions for Mental Illness · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-812605-9.00002-2 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Payne, H., & Brooks, S. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02222 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Shepardson, R. L., Fletcher, T. L., Funderburk, J. S., Weisberg, R. B., Beehler, G. P., & Maisto, S. A. (2023) · Psychological Services · doi:10.1037/ser0000696 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Eilert, N., Timulak, L., Duffy, D., Earley, C., Enrique, A., Kennedy, P., McCormack, C., Palacios, J., Wogan, R., & Richards, D. (2022) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2619 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“…(Beck & Clark, 1997; Zettle & Hayes, 1988) to also include problem solving, distress tolerance and other practical coping skills (D'Zurilla & Nezu, 2007; Linehan, 2013) as well as relaxation, mindfulness and acceptance-focused techniques (Manzoni et al., 2008; Masedo & Rosa Esteve, 2007).”
BackgroundMalhotra, S., Chakrabarti, S., Gupta, A., Mehta, A., Shah, R., Kumar, V., & Sharma, M. (2013) · The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine · doi:10.2190/pm.46.4.a · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Roslyakova, T., Falco, M.-A., & Gauchet, A. (2021) · Psychology & Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2020.1856844 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Arıöz Düzgün, A., & Ege, E. (2017) · Journal of Human Sciences · doi:10.14687/jhs.v14i4.4820 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Thazhakkattu Vasu, D., Mohd Nordin, N. A., Xu, S. X., Ghazali, S. E., & Abu Zarim, S. N. (2020) · Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine · doi:10.37268/mjphm/vol.20/no.3/art.561 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Manzoni, G. M., Pagnini, F., Castelnuovo, G., & Molinari, E.
- Affiliations
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano (IT)
- University of Bergamo (IT)
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Manzoni, Gian Mauro
- Venue
- BMC Psychiatry
- Published
- 2008-06-02
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-41
- ISSN
- 1471-244X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2427027
- OpenAlex
- W2105900331
- Cited by
- 480
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 1.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Aisberg (University of Bergamo) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- IRIS eCampus Telematic University (Università degli Studi eCampus) (submittedVersion)
- PubliCatt (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Compagnia di San Paolo
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- relaxation training, anxiety disorders, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, applied relaxation, meditation, anxiety reduction, treatment efficacy, effect size heterogeneity
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety, Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Relaxation Therapy, Research Design, Patient Selection, Meditation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
