Effects of Laura Mitchell's and Benson Relaxation Technique On Anxiety, Sleep Quality and Fatigue Among COPD Patients

June 8, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. Patients with COPD often experience not only physical symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue but also psychological issues such as anxiety and poor sleep quality, which further compromise their quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions, especially relaxation techniques, have shown promise in improving psychological well-being and physiological outcomes in COPD patients. Among these, Laura Mitchell's relaxation technique and Benson's relaxation response have gained attention for their simplicity and effectiveness.

The primary objective of this study is to assess and compare the effects of Laura Mitchell's relaxation technique and Benson's relaxation technique on anxiety, sleep quality, and fatigue levels in patients diagnosed with moderate to severe COPD. By evaluating these parameters, the study aims to determine which method provides greater benefits in managing psychological and physical symptoms associated with COPD. The study will use a randomized experimental design. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: Group A will receive Laura Mitchell's relaxation training, and Group B will receive Benson's technique. Both interventions will be practiced daily for 15-20 minutes over a 6-weeks period. Baseline and post-intervention (week 6) data will be collected. Outcome measures will include anxiety (GAD-7), fatigue (FSS) and sleep quality (PSQI). Data will be analyzed using paired and independent t-tests to assess within-group and between-group differences, with significance set at p < 0.05. The data will be analyzed using SPSS v 25.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

38

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 40100
        • Recruiting
        • Gulab Devi Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Nimra noor, MS-CPPT

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Gender: Male and Female

  • Age: 40 to 60 years
  • Patients diagnosed with COPD
  • Willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with Exacerbations within past 4 weeks

    • Cardiac Diseases (Acute MI, Congestive Heart Failure)
    • Neuromuscular Disorder
    • Recent lung diseases
    • Hemodynamic instability
    • Respiratory failure

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Laura Mitchell's Physiological Relaxation Technique.

This technique involves awareness of postural alignment, controlled muscular tension-release, and slow rhythmic breathing.

Participants will then be instructed to perform the technique daily for 15-20 minutes over a period of 6 weeks at home. Each participant will maintain a daily logbook recording the time, duration, and any feedback regarding their practice.
Behavioral: Laura Mitchell's Physiological Relaxation Technique.

This technique involves awareness of postural alignment, controlled muscular tension-release, and slow rhythmic breathing.

Participants will then be instructed to perform the technique daily for 15-20 minutes over a period of 6 weeks at home. Each participant will maintain a daily logbook recording the time, duration, and any feedback regarding their practice.
Active Comparator: Benson Relaxation
The session will include instruction on deep breathing, mental repetition of a calming word or phrase (e.g., "relax" or "one"), and passive redirection of attention away from distracting thoughts. Participants will then practice the technique daily for 15-20 minutes for 6 weeks in a quiet environment. Each participant will also maintain a daily practice logbook.
Behavioral: Benson Relaxation
The session will include instruction on deep breathing, mental repetition of a calming word or phrase (e.g., "relax" or "one"), and passive redirection of attention away from distracting thoughts. Participants will then practice the technique daily for 15-20 minutes for 6 weeks in a quiet environment. Each participant will also maintain a daily practice logbook.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Anxiety Severity Assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7
Time Frame: 6 week
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire will be used to assess anxiety severity. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms. The change in GAD-7 score from baseline to 6 weeks will be evaluated.
6 week
Pitts burg Sleep Quality index
Time Frame: 6 week

Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a standardized self-reported questionnaire that evaluates sleep quality and sleep disturbances over the previous month. The PSQI consists of 19 self-rated items grouped into seven components, including subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction.

Score Range: 0-21 Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality and greater sleep disturbance, whereas lower scores indicate better sleep quality. A global PSQI score greater than 5 is indicative of poor sleep quality.
6 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Fatigue Severity Assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale
Time Frame: 6 week

Fatigue severity will be assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a standardized self-reported questionnaire that evaluates the impact of fatigue on daily functioning and activities. The FSS consists of 9 items, each rated on a 7-point Likert scale, with responses ranging from 1 (strong disagreement) to 7 (strong agreement). The final score is calculated as the mean of the 9 items.

Score Range: 1-7 (mean score) Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity and a greater impact of fatigue on daily activities, whereas lower scores indicate less fatigue. A mean score of 4 or higher is commonly considered indicative of significant fatigue.
6 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Arjumand Bano, MS, Riphah International University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 8, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR & AHS/25/0308

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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