Promuovere la capacità di regolazione emozionale negli ipertesi: un’esperienza di psicosalutogenesi.

Based on some studies indicating an emotional deregulation in hypertensives, it is an aim of this study to verify the efficacy of a group of hypertensives training, designed to Promoting Emotional Regulation Skills (PERS), in facilitating recognition and communication of emotions and in decreasing blood pressure (BP) too. Seventy-two hypertensives participated at the study, forming both the PERS group and the control group (waiting list). Medical and psychological anamneses were performed; then, psychological characteristics (Alexithymia, Health Locus of Control, Satisfaction Profile) and physiological measures (clinical recording of BP and 24 hours monitoring of both BP and heart rate) were evaluated before and after treatment. In addition, a three months follow up was planned. Hypertensives attended PERS group once a week for 12 sessions, lasting 2 hours; in the odd sessions experiences of “play” -focused on emotional aspects- was proposed, while even sessions paid attention on emotional experiences of daily life. Results showed increasing levels of Health Locus of control, decreasing blood pressure values (systolic and diastolic ones) and decreasing use of antihypertensive medications.