Promoting emotional regulation in hypertensive patients

Hypertensives compared to normotensive subjects present higher levels of alexithymia and an external Health Locus of Control (HLC). Aim of this study was verifying the efficacy of a psychological intervention of Promoting Emotional Regulation Skills (PERS) in facilitating the identification and communication of emotions, modifying HLC and lowering Blood Pressure (BP). 96 hypertensives were randomly assigned to PERS or to a Waiting-List group. Before, after treatment and at a 3 months follow-up, both psychological (Alexithymia, HLC,) and physiological measures were collected. PERS groups comprised 12 weekly sessions; in the odd sessions an experience of “play” was proposed, even sessions were focused on daily emotional experiences. Main results reveal increasing levels of HLC (p<.02), and decreasing BP, both systolic (p<.0004) and diastolic (p<.000001) in the PERS group as compared to the Waiting-List Group. These findings suggest support the hypothesis that a health promotion program, such as the PERS, may improve well-being of subjects.