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Table 2 Detailed content for the relaxation training intervention

From: Conquer fear: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a psychological intervention to reduce fear of cancer recurrence

Session

Content

Home based practice

1

• Assess FCR;

Practice active PMR daily for 25 minutes

 

• Explain concept of stress, how it can be adaptive when it becomes a problem and how it can be managed through relaxation;

 
 

• Introduce different stress management techniques;

 
 

• Practice active progressive muscle relation (PMR);

 

2

• Review active PMR and its impact on stress levels;

Practice passive PMR daily for 25 minutes

 

• Identify and resolve issues of practicing active PMR;

 
 

• Introduce passive PMR;

 
 

• Practice passive PMR;

 

3

• Review passive PMR and its impact on stress levels;

Incorporate meditative relaxation into passive PMR practice for 25 minutes daily

 

• Identify and resolve issues of practicing passive PMR;

 
 

• Introduce meditative relaxation;

 
 

• Practice meditative relaxation.

 

4

• Review meditative relaxation and its impact on stress levels;

Incorporate visualisation into passive PMR practice for 25 minutes daily

 

• Identify and resolve issues of practicing meditative relaxation;

 
 

• Introduce visualisation as a way of shortcutting the stress response;

 
 

• Practice visualisation.

 

5

• Review visualisation and its impact on stress levels;

 
 

• Identify and resolve issues of practicing visualisation;

 
 

• Introduce quick relaxation techniques;

 
 

• Practice quick relaxation;

 
 

• Review skills learnt and progress made;

 
 

• Develop plan for future practice of relaxation techniques.