BIOBEHAVIORAL APPROACHES TO HYPERTENSION

该项目将针对特定人群， 严重的原发性高血压，其疾病需要至少两种药物， 利尿剂和交感神经阻滞剂来管理。 我们将确定是否 两种行为或非药物治疗方法之一，简称 渐进式放松或热生物反馈，可以取代 治疗高血压的第二阶段或抗交感神经药物 在对照试验中。 此外，我们将比较两个后续 一年以上的维护程序， 行为治疗与标准医疗护理，看看前者是否 导致相对于后者的改进的维护。 更具体地说，100 患有中度至重度原发性高血压的个体， 经过广泛的身体，生化，心理和 心理生理评估，随机分配接受 简化的渐进放松或热生物反馈。 的每个子集 50人将进一步细分，一半将接受行为 两种药物同时治疗，而另一半将接受 第二阶段药物治疗停止后。 从 治疗前评估电池，我们将制定一个计划，以预测谁 谁对行为治疗有积极反应谁没有 广泛 生物化学评估将使我们能够通过 行为治疗的效果

This project will target a specific population, individuals with moderate to severe essential hypertension whose disease requires at least two drugs, diuretics and sympathetic blocking agents, to manage. We will determine if either of two behavioral, or non-pharmacological, treatments, abbreviated progressive relaxation or thermal biofeedback, can be substituted for the second stage, or sympatholytic, drug in the management of the hypertension in a controlled trial. Furthermore, we will compare two follow-up maintenance procedures over one year, monthly booster sessions of behavioral treatment versus standard medical care, to see if the former leads to improved maintenance vis-a-vis the latter. More specifically, l00 individuals suffering from moderate to severe essential hypertension will, after an extensive physical, biochemical, psychological and psychophysiological assessment, be randomly assigned to receive either abbreviated progressive relaxation or thermal biofeedback. Each sub-set of 50 will be further sub-divided such that half will receive behavioral treatment while on two drugs while the other half will receive the treatment after the second stage medication is discontinued. From the pre-treatment assessment battery we will develop a scheme to predict who responds positively to behavioral treatment and who does not. Extensive biochemical assessments will allow us to understand the mechanism through which the behavioral treatments work.