Autogenic Training in Mental Disorders: What Can We Expect?

Dagmar Breznoscakova, Milana Kovanicova, Eva Sedlakova and Maria Pallayova ()
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Dagmar Breznoscakova: Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Milana Kovanicova: 2nd Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Louis Pasteur, Rastislavova 43, 041 90 Kosice, Slovakia
Eva Sedlakova: Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Maria Pallayova: Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Autogenic training (AT) is a well-established self-induced relaxation technique based on autosuggestion. From the past two decades, an increasing number of AT studies strongly suggests the practical usefulness of psychophysiological relaxation in the area of medicine. Despite this interest, to date, limited critical clinical reflection on the application and effects of AT in mental disorders exists. The present paper reviews psychophysiological, psychopathological, and clinical aspects of AT in persons with mental disorders with emphasis on implications for future research and practice. Based on a formal literature search, 29 reported studies (7 meta-analyses/systematic reviews) were identified that examined the effects and impact of AT on mental disorders. The main psychophysiological effects of AT include autonomic cardiorespiratory changes paralleled by central nervous system activity modifications and psychological outputs. Studies demonstrate consistent efficacy of AT in reducing anxiety and medium range positive effects for mild-to-moderate depression. The impact on bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, and acute stress disorder remains unexplored. As an add-on intervention psychotherapy technique with beneficial outcome on psychophysiological functioning, AT represents a promising avenue towards expanding research findings of brain–body links beyond the current limits of the prevention and clinical management of number of mental disorders.

Keywords: autogenic training; mental disorders; relaxation therapy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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