Abstract

This study will be jointly conducted at two sites: SUNY-Albany in Albany, NY, and the USSR Cardiology Research Center in Moscow, USSR. At each site 30 males with mild hypertension will be randomly assigned to receive either (1) Temperature Biofeedback, an American procedure, or (2) Autogenic Training, a Soviet procedure, or (3) instructions to practice relaxation regularly on their own. Identical Pre-Treatment, Post-Treatment and Follow-Up (over 12 months) assessments will be conducted at each site utilizing psychological and physiological testing as well as physical examinations. The study will thus seek to learn if behavioral treatments for hypertension can be exported across cultures, from the USSR to the USA and vice versa. At a more basic level, the study will seek to learn if non-pharmacological therapies can be used in place of drug therapy for mild hypertension. Secondary purposes of the study include the controlled evaluation of temperature biofeedback as a treatment for mild hypertension and, at the American site, possible identification of biochemical mechanisms underlying changes in blood pressure resulting from behavioral treatments.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL031189-03
Application #
3342229
Study Section
Behavioral Medicine Study Section (BEM)
Project Start
1984-01-01
Project End
1987-12-31
Budget Start
1986-01-01
Budget End
1987-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
State University of New York at Albany
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Albany
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
12222

  Publications

Blanchard, E B; Eisele, G; Vollmer, A et al. (1996) Controlled evaluation of thermal biofeedback in treatment of elevated blood pressure in unmedicated mild hypertension. Biofeedback Self Regul 21:167-90
Wittrock, D A; Blanchard, E B; McCoy, G C et al. (1995) The relationship of expectancies to outcome in stress management treatment of essential hypertension: results from the Joint USSR-USA Behavioral Hypertension Project. Biofeedback Self Regul 20:51-63
Musso, A; Blanchard, E B; McCoy, G C (1991) Evaluation of thermal biofeedback treatment of hypertension using 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Behav Res Ther 29:469-78
Blanchard, E B; Gordon, M A; Wittrock, D A et al. (1991) A preliminary investigation of prediction of mean arterial pressure after self-regulatory treatments. Biofeedback Self Regul 16:181-90
Blanchard, E B; Cornish, P J; Wittrock, D A et al. (1990) Subjective experiences associated with thermal biofeedback treatment of hypertension. Biofeedback Self Regul 15:145-59
Katusic, Z S; Shepherd, J T; Vanhoutte, P M (1988) Endothelium-dependent contractions to calcium ionophore A23187, arachidonic acid, and acetylcholine in canine basilar arteries. Stroke 19:476-9
McCoy, G C; Fein, S; Blanchard, E B et al. (1988) End organ changes associated with the self-regulatory treatment of mild essential hypertension? Biofeedback Self Regul 13:39-46
Blanchard, E B; Khramelashvili, V V; McCoy, G C et al. (1988) The USA-USSR collaborative cross-cultural comparison of autogenic training and thermal biofeedback in the treatment of mild hypertension. Health Psychol 7 Suppl:175-92
Blanchard, E B; McCoy, G C; McCaffrey, R J et al. (1988) The effects of thermal biofeedback and autogenic training of cardiovascular reactivity: the joint USSR-USA Behavioral Hypertension Treatment Project. Biofeedback Self Regul 13:25-38