Autogenic Therapy - Index Of Alternative Therapies And Modalities - Complementary & Alternative Medicine

Gastrointestinal conditions

Preliminary research reports some improvements in gastrointestinal disorders (constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, stomach ulcers, stomach ache, chronic nausea and vomiting or spasm), although more studies are necessary before a recommendation can be made. Patients with ulcers should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Cardiovascular conditions

Initial studies suggest possible benefits of autogenic therapy in people with heart or blood vessel disorders (palpitations, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, cold hands or feet). However, this research is preliminary, and additional studies are necessary before a conclusion can be made. Patients with these potentially severe conditions should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Anxiety, stress, depression

Studies of autogenic therapy for anxiety report mixed results, and it is not clear if there is any benefit. For example, one randomized controlled trial suggests autogenic training may play a role in reducing anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty (catheterization). Another randomized controlled trial found cancer patients receiving autogenic training to have an improvement in stress levels. Early evidence suggests that autogenic therapy may not be an appropriate treatment for depression.

HIV/AIDS

Some researchers have reported improvements in HIV complications, including decreased pain, night sweats, weight loss and diarrhea. There are also controversial reports of longer survival, although these findings were noted before the current era of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), which has significantly lengthened survival time in HIV. Research in these areas is not conclusive, and further studies would be helpful.

Hyperventilation

Early evidence reports some benefits of autogenic therapy in people who hyperventilate, although further research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

Behavior problems

Preliminary research suggests autogenic relaxation may reduce stress and psychosomatic complaints in children and adolescents. Further research is needed before clear recommendations can be made.

Athletic performance

Effects of autogenic and imagery training on shooting performance in a biathlon has been observed but not proven to help.

Cancer

Autogenic training has been used on a group of early-stage cancer patients to reduce stress-related behaviors and improve immune system responses. It has also been used to improve sleep quality in cancer patients, reduce the onset of sleep, and increase sleep duration, although any evidence of benefit is unclear for these uses.

Labor pain

Respiratory autogenic training has been studied but not yet proven for treatment of labor pain.

Multiple sclerosis

Early study suggests that autogenic training may increase energy and vigor but decrease physical and emotional problems for people with multiple sclerosis.

Neurocardiogenic syncope

Electromyograph and thermal biofeedback, autogenic and progressive relaxation, and symptom-specific recommendations may have potential benefit in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope, but further study is needed.

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Behavioral therapy is often used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder. However, autogenic therapy is currently viewed as a placebo for this condition.

Phantom limb pain

Phantom limb pain is a noxious, painful sensation that is perceived to occur in an amputated limb. Thermal/autogenic biofeedback sessions may reduce pain, but further study is needed.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Autogenic training, along with other mind-body techniques, has been studied but not yet proven for its effect on post-traumatic stress symptoms in war-traumatized high school students.

Sports or other physical injuries

The mindset can increase confidence and may therefore decrease the number or severity of injuries experienced by athletes. However, a study of ballet dancers found that although a combination of autogenic training and other coping skills reduced injuries, autogenic training alone did not affect the number or severity of injuries in the dancers.

Other

Autogenic therapy has been studied for a number of other conditions, including asthma, eczema, glaucoma, headache (migraine, chronic, menstrual-related and tension), facial pain (myofascial paid disorders) and thyroid disease. This research is early and is not conclusive. More research would be helpful in these areas.

Autogenic therapy has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially life-threatening. Consult with a health care provider before using autogenics for any use.

Angina
Anorexia
Asthma
Behavioral problems
Biliary disorders
Bladder disorders
Blepharospasm (involuntary winking)
Blushing
Brain injury
Cerebral palsy
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic pain
Circulation disorders
Decreased need for pain medication
Degenerative joint disease
Diabetes
Dyspepsia
Eating disorders
Enhanced athletic performance
Enhanced creativity
Enhanced healing
Epilepsy
Exercise performance
Facial spasm
Food allergy
Grief
High cholesterol
Improved concentration
Improved performance at work
Improved stress hormone levels
Increased survival time in illnesses
Infertility
Insomnia
Irritable bowel syndrome

Ischemic heart disease
Jet lag
Joint pain
Longevity
Low back pain
Muscle tension
Nervous cough
Neuralgia (nerve pain)
Night sweats
Obesity
Pain
Panic disorder
Parkinson's disease
Phantom limb pain
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Premenstrual syndrome
Pregnancy
Psychotherapy
Quality of life
Raynaud's disease
Recovery from heart attack
Recurrent infections
Reduced heart attack risk
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sexual dysfunction
Sleep disorders
Stress-related disorders
Substance abuse disorders
Tranquilizer addiction
Tremor
Ulcerative colitis
Ventricular (heart) arrhythmias
Weight loss
Wound healing

Autogenic therapy is thought to be safe for most people, although safety has not been thoroughly studied. Some people may experience a sharp increase or decrease in blood pressure when they do autogenic therapy exercises. If you have abnormal blood pressure or a heart condition, or if you are taking blood pressure drugs, speak with your health care provider before starting autogenic therapy.

Before beginning a program to learn autogenic therapy, have a physical exam and discuss possible physiological effects with your health care provider. If you have a potentially severe health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or high or low blood pressure, practice autogenic therapy only under the supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Autogenic therapy should not replace more proven treatments (for example, prescription drugs, diet or lifestyle changes) for severe illnesses. Autogenic therapy is not recommended for children younger than 5 or for people with severe mental or emotional disorders. If you become anxious or restless during or after autogenic therapy exercises, stop autogenic therapy or continue only under the supervision of a professional autogenic therapy instructor.

Autogenic therapy has been recommended for many conditions. There is early evidence suggesting benefits in some cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders. However, there is no definitive scientific evidence that supports the use of autogenic therapy for any condition. Autogenic therapy is generally regarded as safe in most people, although it may not be advisable in young children and patients with emotional disturbances. Blood pressure changes may occur during autogenic therapy, and people with heart disease should speak with a health care provider before starting therapy.

The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.

Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research

Natural Standard has reviewed all of the currently available medical literature to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created.

Some of the more recent studies are listed below:

Ar'kov VV, Bobrovnitskii IP, Zvonikov VM. Complex correction of functional state in subjects with psychoautonomic syndrome [Article in Russian]. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult 2003;Mar-Apr, (2):16-19.
Blanchard EB, Kim M. The effect of the definition of menstrually-related headache on the response to biofeedback treatment. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2005;30(1):53-63.
Devineni T, Blanchard EB. A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based treatment for chronic headache. Behav Res Ther 2005;43(3):277-292.
Ernst E. Complementary/alternative medicine for hypertension: a mini-review. Wien Med Wochenschr 2005;Sep, 155(17-18):386-391.
Ernst E, Kanji N. Autogenic training for stress and anxiety: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2000;8(2):106-110.
Ernst E, Pittler MH, Stevinson C. Complementary/alternative medicine in dermatology: evidence-assessed efficacy of two diseases and two treatments. Am J Clin Dermatol 2002;3(5):341-348.
Essential hypertension and stress. When do yoga, psychotherapy and autogenic training help? [Article in German]. MMW Fortschr Med 2002;May 9, 144(19):38-41.
Galovski TE, Blanchard EB. Hypnotherapy and refractory irritable bowel syndrome: a single case study. Am J Clin Hypn 2002;Jul, 45(1):31-37.
Goldbeck L, Schmid K. Effectiveness of autogenic relaxation training on children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional problems. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2003;42(9):1046-1054.
Gordon JS, Staples JK, Blyta A, et al. Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in postwar Kosovo high school students using mind-body skills groups: a pilot study. J Trauma Stress 2004;17(2):143-147.
Groslambert A, Candau R, Grappe F, et al. Effects of autogenic and imagery training on the shooting performance in biathlon. Res Q Exerc Sport 2003;74(3):337-341.
Gyorik SA, Brutsche MH. Complementary and alternative medicine for bronchial asthma: is there new evidence? Curr Opin Pulm Med 2004;10(1):37-43.
Harden RN, Houle TT, Green S, et al. Biofeedback in the treatment of phantom limb pain: a time-series analysis. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2005;Mar, 30(1):83-93.
Hidderley M, Holt M. A pilot randomized trial assessing the effects of autogenic training in early stage cancer patients in relation to psychological status and immune system responses. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2004;8(1):61-65.
Huntley A, White AR, Ernst E. Relaxation therapies for asthma: a systematic review. Thorax 2002;Feb, 57(2):127-131.
Ikezuki M, Miyauchi Y, Yamaguchi H, Koshikawa F. Development of Autogenic Training Clinical Effectiveness Scale (ATCES) [Article in Japanese]. Shinrigaku Kenkyu 2002;Feb, 72(6):475-481.
Kanji N. Management of pain through autogenic training. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery 2000;6(3):143-148.
Kanji N, White AR, Ernst E. Autogenic training reduces anxiety after coronary angioplasty: a randomized clinical trial. Am Heart J 2004;147(3):E10.
Kanji N, White A, Ernst E. Autogenic training to reduce anxiety in nursing students: randomized controlled trial. J Adv Nurs 2006;Mar, 53(6):729-735.
Kircher T, Teutsch E, Wormstall H, et al. Effects of autogenic training in elderly patients [Article in German]. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2002;Apr, 35(2):157-165.
Kornilova LN, Cowings P, Arlashchenko NI, et al. Individual characteristics of correction of the cosmonauts' vegetative status with a method of adaptive biofeedback [Article in Russian]. Aviakosm Ekolog Med 2003;37(1):67-72.
Legeron P. Stress psychology and the role of stress management [Article in French]. Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 2002;Apr, 51(2):95-102.
McGrady AV, Kern-Buell C, et al. Biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy in neurocardiogenic syncope: a pilot study. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2003;Sep, 28(3):183-192.
Noh YE, Morris T, Andersen MB. Psychological intervention programs for reduction of injury in ballet dancers. Res Sports Med 2007;Jan-Mar, 15(1):13-32.
Perlitz V, Cotuk B, Schiepek G, et al. [Synergetics of hypnoid relaxation]. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 2004;54(6):250-258.
Rashed H, Cutts T, Abell T, et al. Predictors of response to a behavioral treatment in patients with chronic gastric motility disorders. Dig Dis Sci 2002;May, 47(5):1020-1026.
Simeit R, Deck R, Conta-Marx B. Sleep management training for cancer patients with insomnia. Support Care Cancer 2004;12(3):176-183.
Stetter F, Kupper S. Autogenic training: a meta-analysis of clinical outcome studies. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2002;Mar, 27(1):45-98.
Unterberger PG. High blood pressure and renal lesions: curable with hypnosis? [Article in German]. MMW Fortschr Med 2002;Feb 28, 144(9):12.
Watanabe Y, Cornelissen G, Watanabe M, et al. Effects of autogenic training and antihypertensive agents on circadian and circaseptan variation of blood pressure. Clin Exp Hypertens 2003;25(7):405-412.
Winocur E, Gavish A, Emodi-Perlman A, et al. Hypnorelaxation as treatment for myofascial pain disorder: a comparative study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;Apr, 93(4):429-434.
Wright S, Courtney U, Crowther D. A quantitative and qualitative pilot study of the perceived benefits of autogenic training for a group of people with cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2002;Jun, 11(2):122-130.
Zsombok T, Juhasz G, Budavari A, et al. Effect of autogenic training on drug consumption in patients with primary headache: an 8-month follow-up study. Headache 2003;Mar, 43(3):251-257.