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W. Stewart Agras, MD; Harold Leitenberg, PhD; David H. Barlow, PhD; Nanci-Ames Curtis, MD; Joyce Edwards, MA; Dale Wright, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1971;25(6):511-514.

Abstract
The contribution of muscular relaxation to systematic desensitization therapy was studied in four phobic patients. Removal of relaxation during a control phase of therapy made no difference to the patients' improving ability to perform in their phobic situation. In two subjects, progress through the hierarchy and therapeutic progress, as measured by self-rating, slowed on removal of relaxation; however, the overall effects were small. This suggests that variables other than relaxation are in large part responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of desensitization. Relaxation paired with visualization of feared scenes helps some patients to approach their feared object or situation in imagination, and may motivate them to approach it in reality.

Author Affiliations
Jackson, Miss; Burlington, Vt; Jackson, Miss; Burlington, Vt

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson (Drs. Agras and Barlow), and the departments of psychology and psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington (Drs. Leitenberg, Curtis, Wright, and Mrs. Edwards.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication Oct 12, 1970.

Reprint requests to Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State St, Jackson, Miss 39216 (Dr. Agras).