Assessing Progress of Two Therapy Sessions Using Budzynski Relaxation Tapes With RELAX

The HS-Hypnotic Subliminal audio cassette tapes developed by Thomas Budzynski use subliminal information that bombards one throughout the day and which serves as an effective means for progressive relaxation. The present study sought to determine the effectiveness of two treatment sessions by use of the Budzynski method for 59 subjects undergoing psychological care, all displaying high levels of anxiety and a general inability to relax. Significant changes were observed in a positive direction.

The present study sought to evaluate change associated with two therapy sessions using two of the Budzynski subliminal tapes for 59 individuals undergoing psychological treatment (Budzynski, 1974). All individuals were selected because of high levels of anxiety and a general inability to relax. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the direction and nature of change as measured by use of RELAX (pre- and post assessment using biofeedback) which contained two separate therapy sessions spaced a day or more apart. The HS-Hypnotic subliminal tape was utilized (Budzynski, 1974).

Nature of RELAX

RELAX is a 12-minute program consisting of two separate parts which use the Cassel Tri-Bi-Sensor interfaced with a computer. The following four biofeedback instruments record neural measurements (Costello, 1988):

1. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) - emotional control,
2. Electromyograph (EMG) - tension of striated muscles,
3. Finger Temperature (TEMP) sympathetic arousal, and
4. Pulse Rate (PULSE) - stress load presently carried.

Part Two - consists of six minutes during which the subject listens to Chinese music with a minimum of rhythm and is asked to try to relax using personal techniques. Because music serves as the milieu for the non-musician, it is presumed to represent the degree of non-dominant brain control.

Subjects Involved

The subjects (all from Australia) included 36 males ranging in age from 14 to 61 years (M = 38.7 and SD = 8.4) and 23 females ranging in age from 14 to 45 years (M = 31.7 and SD = 10.8). Table 1 displays RELAX scores by sex. for both the pre- and post-administration. Examining sexual differences is deemed important because the female in Australia tends to have more tension and anxiety than the male as measured by RELAX (Costello, 1988).

Table 1

Comparison by Male and Female for the Pre- and Post-RELAX Scores Combined (N.1 18)

Scores	Male		Female		Difference		Prob.
	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD
AGE	38.694	8.428	31.696	10.828	-6.998	2.400	0.001
MRSTAT	1.722	0.451	1.587	0.498	-0.135	0.047	n.s.
GSRDOM	40.958	7.477	38.217	8.019	-2.741	0.542	n.s.
EMGDOM	51.111	27.028	68.696	17.297	17.585	-9.731	0.001
TEMDOM	39.861	8.197	35.761	9.746	-4.100	1.549	0.015
PULDOM	53.583	10.163	55.587	7.538	2.004	-2.625	n.s.
GSRNDM	44.444	6.661	40.848	7.306	-3.596	0.645	0.007
EMGNDM	48.083	26.636	66.0876	20.390	18.004	-6.24	0.001
TEMNDM	39.569	8.597	36.326	10.080	-3.243	1.483	n.s.
PULNDM	52.444	10.652	55.457	7.250	3.013	3.402	n.s.
INIGSR	32.181	7.493	39.478	12.754	7.297	5.261	0.001

Note: All scores converted to base of 20 to 80 (raw scores).

Sexual Differences

The data contained in Table 2, a discriminant analysis of the rotated factor scores of RELAX combining both the pre- and post-test data, indicates (without a single error) the following conditions of both the male and female subjects:

1. AGE - females are significantly younger than males,
2. EMGDOM - females have more unconscious muscle tension,
3. TEMDOM - females have less control of "fight or flight" pattern,
4. GSRNDM - females have less unconscious emotions,
5. EMGNDM - females have more conscious muscle tension, and
6. INIGSR - females have greater initial emotions.

The discriminant analysis using rotated factor post-therapy RELAX scores in Table 3 discerns reliably 58 of the 59 subjects . This means that the change is nearly complete for all individuals involved, and, when compared with only 46 of the 59 predicted accurately in the pre-therapy RELAX ones, or prior to the use of the Budzynski relaxation tapes. It should be noted that a large number of the 13 errors of the post RELAX scores were female (8 out of 13), suggesting a more severe problem with females in acquiring control of tension and emotions.

Time of RELAX	Pre-RELAX	Post-RELAX	Total
Pre-RELAX scores	46 (accurate)	13 (error)	59
Post-RELAX scores	1 (error)	58 (accurate)	59
Total 47	71	118

Nature of Change from Use of Budzynski Subliminal Tapes

When trying to ascertain the nature of change derived from the use of the Budzynski tapes, the data in Table 4 provides very little help. For eight of the nine RELAX scores, there is no statistically significant difference noted. The only RELAX score showing statistically significant change is TEMDOM (temperature of finger during dominant control relaxation assessment with the Tri-Bi-Sensor) which shows increased control of stress management (ability to control "fight or flight" pattern). Also, five of the nine RELAX scores depicted in Table 3 show change in a direction indicating greater control of stress and anxiety: GSRDOM, EMGDOM, TEMDOM, EMGNDM, and INIGSR. It should be noted that this includes both the dominant and non-dominant brain control. Dominant brain attributes serve more effectively in relation to life away from the psychological clinic where treatment is being accomplished. This is particularly true because the dominant brain exercises "veto" power over the non-dominant brain and promises to generalize into other areas of life-space. Sexual differences on RELAX before and after treatment were not sought because too few cases were involved to have meaning.

References

Budzynski, T. H. (1974). HS-Hypnotic subliminal. Denver, CO:Behavioral Medicine Associates.

Cassel, R.N., & Cassel, S.L. (1983). Relaxation assessment with varied social milieu (RELAX). Psychology, 20(3/4), 41-43.

Costello, B.R. (In Press). Assessing the relaxation qualities of persons undergoing psychological care through biofeedback. College Student Journal.