Assess the Effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise on Management of Selected Symptoms among Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2025.v10.n11.032Keywords:
Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Schizophrenia, Psychiatric Nursing, Symptom Management, Non-Pharmacological TherapyAbstract
Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic, complex psychiatric disorder that causes a significant impact on patients’ quality of life, social functioning, and the healthcare system. Non-pharmacological interventions such as relaxation techniques can complement medication therapy to reduce symptoms and enhance mental well-being. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a simple, cost-effective, evidence-based technique that helps patients manage anxiety, tension, and psychotic symptoms. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of PMR on selected symptoms among patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was adopted. Thirty patients with chronic schizophrenia were selected through purposive sampling from Sneka Mind Care Centre, Tirunelveli District. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess symptom severity before and after the intervention. The PMR exercise was administered by the investigator for four weeks, 30 minutes daily under supervision. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; paired t-test was used to evaluate pretest and posttest differences. Results: The mean pretest PANSS score was 78.1 ± 3.0, and the mean posttest score was 35.4 ± 4.7. The calculated t-value (t = 49.75, p < 0.001) indicated a highly significant reduction in symptoms following the intervention. A notable improvement was observed in both positive and negative symptoms, including reduction in tension, anxiety, suspiciousness, and social withdrawal. Conclusion: The findings conclude that progressive muscle relaxation is an effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce selected symptoms among patients with chronic schizophrenia. Incorporating PMR as part of routine psychiatric nursing care can enhance emotional stability, relaxation, and overall quality of life for these patients.
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