On the use of progressive relaxation in the treatment of bulimia: A single-subject design study

Abstract

Mizes and lohr (1983) in a single-case design, found that progressive relax- ation implemented during the urge to binge (coping relaxation) reduced bingelpurge episodes. However, attribution of the source therapeutic change to relaxation was somewhat ambiguous due to the confounding of treatment order effects and the concurrent use of a self-reinforcement treatment. In ad- dition to addressing these issues, the present study sought to investigate the utility of general relaxation and to assess effects on binge urges as well as bingelpurge episodes. In a single-subject design (A-B-BC) study, general daily relaxation resulted in a reduction of 46% in binge urges and 52% in binges, as compared to baseline. General relaxation and coping relaxation resulted in reductions from baseline of 55% and 64%, respectively. Clinical signifi- cance and research implications are discussed, as well as data supportive of the negative affect model of bingeing and purging.