不安感受性の緩和が自律訓練法によるリラクセーション効果に及ぼす影響  [in Japanese] Influences of Reducing Anxiety Sensitivity on Relaxation Effects by Autogenic Training  [in Japanese]

本研究の目的は,自律訓練法(AT)によるリラクセーション効果の妨害要因である不安感受性の操作が,ATによるリラクセーション効果に及ぼす影響を明らかにすることであった.健常大学生を対象に,(1)不安感受性が高く,AT指導前に不安感受性の緩和を目的とした認知行動プログラムが行われる介入群(10名),(2)不安感受性が高く,AT指導前に不安感受性に対する介入は行われないH統制群(5名),(3)不安感受性が低いL統制群(40名),の3群についてATによるリラクセーション効果の差異を検討した結果,H統制群は,ATによるリラクセーション効果が得られないことが明らかにされた.本研究の結果から,不安感受性の高い者においても,AT実施前に不安感受性を緩和することで,ATによるリラクセーション効果を促進できることが示され,不安障害の治療にATを用いる際は,不安感受性を緩和させてからATを指導する必要性が指摘された.

Objectives: Autogenic training (AT) is one of the effective relaxation methods. Recent studies reported that some patients feel much anxious during AT exercises, and elevated anxiety sensitivity (fear of anxiety-related sensations) that increases the risk of anxiety disorders is the factor which influences relaxation effects by AT. However, influences of reducing anxiety sensitivity on relaxation effects by AT has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of reducing anxiety sensitivity on relaxation effects by AT. Methods and subjects: Subjects were 55 healthy undergraduate students who were divided into three groups: subjects with high anxiety sensitivity who participated in a cognitive behavioral program designed to reduce anxiety sensitivity before AT exercise (TREATMENT group: n=10), subjects with high anxiety sensitivity who did not participate in a cognitive behavioral program designed to reduce anxiety sensitivity before AT exercise (H-CONTROL group: n=5), and subjects with low anxiety sensitivity who did not participate in a cognitive behavioral program designed to reduce anxiety sensitivity before AT exercise (L-CONTROL group: n=40). AT exercises were composed of group sessions and homework sessions. Relaxation effects were measured during AT exercises at the last group session. Results: Comparison of relaxation effects by AT among three groups revealed that scores of the H-CONTROL group were lower than those of TREATMENT group and L-CONTROL group (H-CONTROL vs. TREATMENT: p <0.05; H-CONTROL vs. L-CONTROL: p<0.05). Discussion: The results of this study indicate that individuals with high anxiety sensitivity before AT exercise were not provided relaxation effects by AT exercise. Additionally, individuals with high anxiety sensitivity were provided relaxation effects by AT, if elevated anxiety sensitivity is reduced before AT exercise. From this result, it is clarified that reducing anxiety sensitivity, which means anxiety related-sensations, would promote relaxation effects by AT. Therefore, before AT exercise, it is suggested that reducing anxiety sensitivity is important for the psychosomatic intervention which includes AT exercises for anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the intervention may be effective to improve the anxiety disorders.