Abstract
The present study was based on the hypothesis that stress may contribute to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma patients. It is investigated whether IOP reactivity to a mental stressor test (MST) can be influenced by relaxation training. Twenty three patients with open-angle glaucoma were randomly assigned either to a training group (TG) or to a waiting-list control group (CG). Prior to as well as after the completion of the training all patients were exposed to the MST. IOP and heart rate as well as self-ratings of psychological strain were assessed three times: (1) at baseline, (2) after exposition to the stressor, and (3) after a 10-min relaxation phase. Results provide evidence that the MST is a valid procedure to induce psychophysiological activation and that elevated IOP levels in open-angle glaucoma patients might be provoked by stressing situations. However, participation in the relaxation training did not influence IOP stress reactivity.
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Kaluza, G., Strempel, I. & Maurer, H. Stress reactivity of intraocular pressure after relaxation training in open-angle glaucoma patients. J Behav Med 19, 587–597 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01904906
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01904906