Psychophysiologic effects of applied tension on the emotional fainting response to blood and injury.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to investigate the psychophysiologic effects of "Applied Tension" (AT) on the emotional fainting response to blood and injury in a controlled experiment.

METHOD: Twenty-two persons reporting to generally feel faint or to have fainted at the sight of blood or injury and 22 participants classified as Non-Fainters were randomly allocated to a treatment or control condition. Psychophysiologic responses were continuously monitored while individuals watched a video depicting open-heart surgery and a control film. Prior to the surgery film, participants in the treatment condition were instructed in the use of AT.

RESULTS

All participants classified as Fainters showed a diphasic response pattern while watching the surgery film. This response, however, was significantly attenuated in Fainters in the treatment condition.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that AT provides an effective treatment strategy for the prevention of fainting responses in persons with a fear of blood and injury.