ABSTRACT

Background: Thalassemia major imposes many undesirable effects on patients’ mental health. Thus, most patients experience anxiety and aggression, which affect their lifestyle. Using relaxation as an independent treatment method can have a number of positive consequences, including a reduction in these two complications. Aim: To explore the effect of Benson relaxation technique on anxiety and aggression in patients with thalassemia major.

Methods: In this interventional trial,60 patients admitted to the Thalassemia Ward of Ali Asghar Hospital in Zahedan were selected through convenience sampling and randomized into the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, Benson relaxation technique was taught toeach patient in 3 face-to-face sessions of 30-45 minutes with an interval of 2 to 3days; these patients were asked to practice this technique twice a day for 12 weeks. No special intervention was undertaken for the controls and they received only routine care. Data collection tools included a demographic, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire, and the Buss Perry Aggression(BPAQ) Questionnaire ,which were completed before and 12 weeks after the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using analysis of covariance, paired t-test, independent t-testandChi-squared test.

Results: There was no statistical difference between the mean anxiety scores of patients in the intervention (93.27±12.94) and control(89.83±20.63) groups before the tievnevietni(P= 0.21). After the intervention, a significant difference emerged between the mean scores of anxiety in the intervention(70.90 ±15.98) and the control (88.53±21.04) groups (P= 0.001). Similarly, the mean scores of aggression in the intervention(71.27±10.16) and control (64.10±10.03)groups were not statistically different before the intervention(P=0.32), but this score differed significantly in the intervention (49.33±7.84) and the control (63.30 ±10.68) groups after the intervention (P= 0.001).

Conclusion: Thanks to its positive effects, is strongly recommended as a non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive treatment in which the patient is at the center of attention. Specifically, it is helpful to apply this technique for mitigating anxiety and aggression in patients with thalassemia major.

Keywords: Thalassemia major, Benson relaxation, Anxiety, Aggression