Abstract

NAPOLES IZQUIERDO, Yunexis; AGUERO PADRON, Marlenes; DIAZ AGUERO, Heriberto  and  ESPINO DELGADO, Rosa María. Application of relaxation techniques before breast surgery. AMC [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.2, pp. 173-186. ISSN 1025-0255.

Background: women with breast affections should be physically and psychologically prepared for surgery. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of the psychological intervention with relaxation techniques aimed at reducing emotional disorders in patients that will undergo a breast surgery. Method: an intervention study was conducted at the Ana Betancourt de Mora Gynecobstetric University Hospital in Camagüey, from January to December, 2010. The universe was composed of 81 patients with breast affections. The non-probabilistic sample included 49 women clinically diagnosed with benign and malignant tumors. The study was developed in three stages: in the diagnostic stage, anxiety levels and depression were identified; in the intervention stage the Schultz autogenic training technique was put into practice; finally, in the evaluation stage, results were obtained. Results: in the diagnostic stage, middle and high anxiety levels prevailed; depression ranged from moderate to severe. After the intervention, low anxiety level predominated; more than the half of the sample stopped feeling depression and serious depression disappeared. Some symptoms of anxiety like cephalalgia, perspiration, and digestive disorders disappeared as well. Thoracic tightness and palpitations decreased. Depressive symptoms like crying, sadness, pessimism, sleep disorders, and anguish also disappeared. The level of satisfaction with the applied treatment was favorable, only a 4 % of the sample was not satisfied. Conclusions:  the Schultz autogenic training technique reduced the symptoms associated to breast pathology.

Keywords : RELAXATION THERAPY; BREAST [surgery]; PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS; TREATMENT OUTCOME; INTERVENTION STUDIES.

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