A Neurophysiological Rationale for the Use of the Relaxation Response: Neurological Desensitization

摘要: Since the original applications of behavioral technologies to treatment disease, it has been observed that elicitation what Benson (1975) called “relaxation response” proved useful in a wide variety psychiatric and stress-related somatic diseases (Benson; Caudill, Schnable, Zuttermeister, Benson, & Friedman, 1991; Chen et al., 2009; Domar, Seidel, 1990; Dunford Thompson, 2010; Forbes, 2008; Hellman, Kutz, Borysenko, 1985; Lavey Taylor, Mackereth, Booth, Hillier, Caress, Manzoni, Pagnini, Castelnuovo, Molinari, Moturi Avis, Rausch, Gramilin, Auerbach, 2006; Shapiro Giber, 1978). The relaxation response is perhaps best understood as psychophysiological state hypoarousal engendered by multitude diverse (e.g., meditation, neuromuscular relaxation, hypnosis). Research into therapeutic mechanism its clinical proliferation have hampered, however, lack conceptual clarity regarding foundations and/or mechanisms action. This chapter will explore physiological psychological set stage for discussions subsequent chapters specific relaxation) used elicit diseases.