Evaluation of Progressive Relaxation Training with Adult Psychiatric Patients

This paper describes Progressive Relaxation Training (PRT) which was introduced as part of the treatment program for psychiatric patients at the University of Alberta Hospital. The program was initiated and conducted through the combined efforts of Occupational Therapy and Psychology staff members. This article takes into account indications for treatment and the teaching method used. An evaluation of the program examines the results of evaluation questionnaires completed immediately after the PRT session and the results of a follow-up study which was conducted on the first fifteen patients who completed the training sessions. Six weeks to six months after completing the training session, two-thirds of the patients reported that they continued to receive some benefit in using their PRT skills to control muscular tension and to help them cope with difficulties in daily living. These preliminary results are encouraging and suggest that PRT can be an effective treatment program. Such a program certainly deserves further study and refinements.