This paper describes the application of autogenic training (AT), a technique of deep relaxation and self-hypnosis, in patients diagnosed with cancer,with the aim of increasing their coping ability, and reports the results of a questionnaire survey performed before and after an AT course. A reduction in arousal and anxiety can help individuals to perceive their environment as less hostile and threatening, with implications for improved perceived coping ability. Complementary therapies are considered useful in enhancing symptom relief, overall well-being and self-help when used as adjuvant therapies to allopathic medical interventions. The present study aimed to validate, in an Irish context, the effectiveness of AT as a complementary therapy for patients with cancer. Each participant completed a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Profile of Mood States questionnaire before and after a 10-week AT course. The results indicated a significant reduction in anxiety and increase in 'fighting spirit' after compared with before training, with an improved sense of coping and improved sleep being apparent benefits of AT practice.
Dorothy Crowther describes the evolution of the Wirral Holistic Care Services, a company dedicated to helping people cope with cancer. Based on a recognition that such patients want more than the standard NHS fare, initial evaluations suggest that the company is going some way to meeting the extra needs of this group. Available therapies include aromatherapy, kinesiology, reflexology and meditation, incorporating a model of care which endorses putting the patient first.
Dorothy Crowther introduces autogenic therapy, one of the lesser known complementary therapies, which involves simple mental exercises which help individuals take control of their lives.
Menstrual cycle hormonal changes have been reported to be responsible for a number of physical and behavioural changes. A number of studies have suggested that both physical and mental disorders occur in the premenstrual part of the cycle. The object of this study was to discover whether the frequency with which women of childbearing age seek medical advice is affected by the 'time of the month'. It was hypothesized that because of an increase in symptomatology there would be an increase in the number of requests for consultations to see the doctor in the premenstrual phase of the cycle. Women between the ages of 18 and 45, in two practices, answered a questionnaire when they arrived at the surgery for a consultation. The women were later telephoned to discover the exact first day of their next period. Four hundred and thirty-two questionnaires were analysed. The number of requests for a surgery consultation did appear to vary according to the phase of the cycle. There were fewer than anticipated requests for consultations in the few days prior to the onset of menstruation; however the rate of requests for a consultation during menstruation was significantly increased. These differences from the expected were particularly significant if the appointment had been made within 24 hours of the consultation (that is for urgent consultations) and among women who had high scores on a premenstrual syndrome checklist.
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