Effects of progressive muscle relaxation on smoking craving.

Abstract

Background : Craving for smoking is a symptom of cigarette dependence. The symptom often occurs with unpleasant feelings both in the body and mind. Several evidences show that Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) could reduce stress and anxiety. However, effects of PMR on smoking craving have not been studied.

Objective : To assess the effects of PMR on smoking craving in individuals with cigarette dependence.

Design : An experimental study comparing between pre and post intervention.

Setting : King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Materials and Methods : Data were collected from 17 participants with cigarette dependence who refrained smoking for at least 3 hours by using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism (SSADDA) for personal information and history of cigarette use, Pen Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for subjective feelings related to substance use and vital signs. The data were analyzed by using paired-samples t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare levels of craving and other subjective feelings between before and after PMR intervention. The research was carried out from August to November, 2012.

Results : After receiving PMR, the subjects had lower averaged smoking craving score (PACS, VAS), and other subjective feelings including stimulated, anxious, hungry, bad feeling and changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures than those before the experiment at the statistical level p < 0.05.

Conclusion : PMR could reduce craving for cigarette smoking in individuals with cigarette dependence. PMR may be used adjunctive to standard treatment for cigarette dependence. Further randomized controlled trial on the effect of PMR on reduction of smoking craving is warranted.