Abstract

A preliminary study showed that the experience of group psychotherapy produced a mean elevation in systolic blood pressure of 4.4 mm. of mercury, and diastolic blood pressure of 3.3 mm. of mercury, and a mean decrease of pulse of 3.0. An experimental study was done by comparing the effectiveness of three procedures; neutral bath, bedrest, and ward activities in lowering blood pressure and pulse after group psychotherapy. Studies had been done to determine stress due to emotional stimuli and its effect upon the physiological and psychological reactions of the body, but there were no actual experimental studies found dealing with the measurement of blood pressure and pulse following group psychotherapy as an indication of Sixty-stress. three patients from 17 to 55 years of age. and free from any known medical disease were randomly selected. The mean systolic reductions were: neutral bath 14 mm., bedrest 6 mm., and ward activities increased 1 mm. of mercury. The difference between the neutral bath and bedrest was statistically significant at the .025 level. The mean diastolic reductions were: neutral bath 7 mm., bedrest .5 mm., and ward activities increased 3 mm. of mercury. The difference between the neutral bath and bedrest was statistically significant at the .005 level. The mean pulse reductions were: neutral bath 5, bedrest 2, and ward activities .9 beats per minute. The difference between the neutral bath and bedrest was statistically significant at the .005 level. The cardiovascular changes in this study were used as an index of stress.

We conclude under the conditions of this study that the experience of group psychotherapy is stressful as reflected by cardiovascular change, and that the neutral bath is more successful in reducing this blood pressure and pulse than is either bedrest or ward activities. The results suggest that further research in this area is indicated.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Betty T. Lonnstrom

Second Advisor

Wynelle J. Huff

Third Advisor

Bernell E. Baldwin

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1970

Date (Title Page)

5-1970

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Baths Stress; Psychological Psychotherapy; Group

Type

Thesis

Page Count

viii; 68

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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