Effects of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) on levels of plasma catecholamines

everal biobehavioral relaxation techniques have been used in stress management. One of these techniques is flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST). The present study examines sympathoadrenomedullary activity as evidenced by plasma catecholamine levels during REST and Non-REST relaxation. Twelve male first-year medical students volunteered. Each subject experienced a baseline session and six relaxation sessions, either REST (n = 6) or Non-REST (n = 6), 40 min each over a 3 wk period. Plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employing electrochemical detection (ECD). Plasma values of E, for the REST group, showed a significantly (p...