Improving Mental Health Outcome in Hypertensive Patients: The Role of Relaxation Techniques

Background: Relaxation techniques (progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing) have an impact on the patients with hypertension as they produce a relaxation response within the body and thus, are efficient in lowering the stress and blood pressure in the patients. Objective: This study aims to determine the role of relaxation techniques (progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing) on improving mental health outcome in hypertensive patients (depression, anxiety and stress). Methodology: A Quasi-experimental design used to guide this study, it was conducted by use of a pre-posttest approach during the period 26th of November, 2023 to 7th of April, 2024. A non-probability (purposive) sampling has been performed during a selection of (100) patients who attending Outpatient Clinic in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital, (50) patients as control group and (50) patients as study group. The researcher used a socio-demographic and psychological parameter scale (DASS-21). Results: The findings of the current study show highly statistically significant differences in post-test between study and control group (at P ≤ 0.001). On other hand, there is no statistically significant difference in the pre-test between the two group of all psychological parameter (at P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing exercises can both proved to be significantly effective in improve mental health in hypertensive patients (depression, anxiety and stress). Recommendations: In order to reduce hypertension and other psychological parameters in patients with essential hypertension, the researcher suggested combining pharmacological therapies with non-drug therapy (relaxation techniques intervention) in the management of hypertension.