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Efficacy of Functional Relaxation and Patient Education in the Treatment of Somatoform Heart Disorders: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Investigation

Received May 10, 2006; revised February 13, 2007; accepted February 21, 2007. From the Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine, Technical University Munich, Germany (CL), the Center for Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg, Germany (CL, THL, KT), and the Inntalklinik, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine, Simbach am Inn, Germany (MN). Send correspondence and reprint requests to Claas Lahmann, M.D., Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Langerstrasse 3, 81675 Munich, Germany. e-mail: lahmann{at}tum.de
© 2008 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Recurrent heart problems and, especially, chest pain in the absence of somatic heart disease is a common finding, although challenging to treat. OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed a body-oriented approach to the somatic fixation frequently seen in these patients. METHOD: They conducted a controlled study to assess the effect of functional relaxation in 22 patients with non-specific chest pain. The primary outcome measures were self-reported changes on the subscales Somatization and Anxiety of the Symptom Checklist of Derogatis, as well as the subscale Cardiovascular Complaints of the Giessen Inventory of Complaints. RESULTS: Significant improvements of the primary outcome measures were observed in patients treated with functional relaxation, whereas no significant improvements could be seen in the control group. CONCLUSION: Functional relaxation appears to be a safe and effective, non-pharmacological approach in the treatment of non-specific chest pain.

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