Relaxation and Anxiety Sensitivity

Abstract

Our study investigated to what extent the anxiety sensitivity is a good predictor of later difficulties in relaxation, and if it is a better predictor of this aspect than the own clinical diagnosis and/or the levels of trait anxiety (STAI). The study discuses the possible modification of the levels of anxiety sensitivity by mean of the training in muscular relaxation. Twenty one ambulatory patients from the Unit of Mental Health of the Hospitals of Toledo and Valladolid participated in the work. A control group consisted in 10 administrative personnel and sanitarian from the Provincial Hospital of Toledo. The mean age of the participants was 38,71 years (DT = 10,31). The results indicate that, a) the punctuation obtained in ASI isn’t a predictor of the difficulties appeared in the training, b) the levels of anxiety state diminished in all of the groups after the relaxation training, and c) anxiety sensitivity decreased significantly in the two clinical groups after relaxation training.