A relaxation intervention for pregnant women with hypertension
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A brief relaxation intervention for pregnant women with hypertension
IRAS ID
163531
Contact name
Paul J Hardiman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 17 days
Research summary
Gestational hypertension - high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy – occurs in up to 17% of otherwise healthy pregnancies. Complications from gestational hypertension occur in up to 10% of pregnancies. For example, gestational hypertension can cause premature delivery and low birth weight, and it predicts hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in mothers in later life.
There is some evidence that relaxation techniques (for example, relaxing breathing and thinking relaxing thoughts) provide clinical and psychological benefits for women with pregnancy-induced hypertension without the drawbacks of medication. In general these studies find statistically significant improvements in blood pressure and mood.
This study proposes to recruit 19 women pregnancy-induced hypertension at the Royal Free Hospital. They will have their blood pressure and mood measured before and after listening to a relaxing recording, lasting 15 minutes, which has been found to reduce blood pressure in pregnant women. Their participation in the study will last less than an hour, from the time they are approached to the time they have finished listening to the CD. We hope that this will be of benefit to participants, both in improving mood and reducing blood pressure. If successful, and larger and longer term project would be proposed.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0563
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion