A comparison of anxiety treatments with adults who have moderate and severe mental retardation.

Several authors have suggested that Abbreviated Progressive Relaxation may not be effective with clients who have moderate and severe mental retardation. Because of this the authors were interested in the development of behavioural relaxation which is a more simple technique and does not require a conceptual awareness of internal states of tension. These two treatments were compared in group and individual forms with four groups of subjects. Subjects were assessed using measures of rated anxiety and pulse rate before, during, and after treatment. The rated anxiety measures suggest Behavioural Relaxation Training is more effective than Abbreviated Progressive Relaxation in both group and individual formats. There were no significant differences on the pulse rate measures.