TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA BY RELAXATION TRAINING

16 undergraduates with chronic insomnia were given 2-wk training in a relaxation technique called autogenic training, in an attempt to determine whether this alone would relieve the insomnia. It was hypothesized that tension in large skeletal muscles is the necessary and sufficient condition for insomnia, whatever its origin. 13 Ss were available for the posttreatment interview. Of these, 11 reported improvement. 2 follow-ups, covering a period of almost 1 yr., showed approximately the same results. With 1 discussed exception, no symptom substitution could be found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1968 American Psychological Association.