Nedstrand Elizabeth, Wijma Klaas, Wyon Yvonne, Hammar Mats
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit of Medical Psychology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden.
Maturitas. 2005 Jun 16;51(2):154-62. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2004.05.017.
The aim was to evaluate and compare the effects of applied relaxation and oral estradiol treatment on hot flushes, mood and psychological wellbeing in postmenopausal women.
In a prospective study, 30 postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms were randomized to applied relaxation or oral estradiol treatment during 12 weeks with 6 months follow-up. Number and severity of flushes were registered daily and Kupperman's Index and a general estimate of climacteric symptoms, Mood Scale and Symptom Check List were completed at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, and 3 and 6 months after therapy.
After 12 weeks of treatment, the number of flushes/24 h decreased significantly over time in both treatment groups. In the group receiving applied relaxation, the mean number of flushes/24 h decreased from 6.0 (95% CI 4.5-7.6) to 3.0 (95% CI 2.1-3.9) after 12 weeks of treatment. The mean number of flushes/24 h was 1.7 (95% CI 0.7-2.5) at 6 months follow-up; i.e. a 72% decrease. In the estrogen group, the mean number of flushes/24h decreased from 8.4 to 0.8; i.e a 90% decrease in the number of flushes after 12 weeks of treatment. The significant change in flushes reached after 12 weeks of treatment and remained to 6 months after end of treatment in both groups. Estrogen therapy reduced flushes significantly faster than applied relaxation. General climacteric symptoms according to the Visual Analogue Scale and the Kupperman's Index decreased significantly over time in both groups. General mood (Mood Scale) increased significantly in the estrogen group, but not in the group receiving applied relaxation. Psychological wellbeing according to Symptom Checklist, increased significantly from baseline to 12 weeks in both groups.
We suggest that applied relaxation may be used as an alternative treatment of vasomotor symptoms for postmenopausal women but should be further evaluated.
评估并比较应用放松疗法和口服雌二醇治疗对绝经后女性潮热、情绪及心理健康的影响。
在一项前瞻性研究中，30名有血管舒缩症状的绝经后女性被随机分为应用放松疗法组或口服雌二醇治疗组，为期12周，并随访6个月。每日记录潮热的次数和严重程度，在治疗的基线、4周、8周和12周以及治疗结束后3个月和6个月时完成库珀曼指数及更年期症状的总体评估、情绪量表和症状自评量表。
治疗12周后，两个治疗组每24小时潮热次数均随时间显著减少。在接受应用放松疗法的组中，治疗12周后每24小时潮热的平均次数从6.0（95%可信区间4.5 - 7.6）降至3.0（95%可信区间2.1 - 3.9）。在6个月随访时，每24小时潮热的平均次数为1.7（95%可信区间0.7 - 2.5）；即减少了72%。在雌激素组中，每24小时潮热的平均次数从8.4降至0.8；即治疗12周后潮热次数减少了90%。治疗12周后潮热次数的显著变化在两组中均持续至治疗结束后6个月。雌激素疗法比应用放松疗法能更快地显著减少潮热。根据视觉模拟量表和库珀曼指数评估的总体更年期症状在两组中均随时间显著减少。雌激素组的总体情绪（情绪量表）显著改善，但接受应用放松疗法组未改善。根据症状自评量表评估，两组从基线到12周心理健康均显著改善。
我们建议应用放松疗法可作为绝经后女性血管舒缩症状的替代治疗方法，但应进一步评估。
