How blood pressure in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is influenced by stress

Abstract

The effects of reducing stress on blood pressure were investigated in 20 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. An anxiolytic, fludiazepam, was administered to the patients for 12 weeks and their blood pressures and State Trait Anxiety Inventory scores at the beginning and end of treatment were compared. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and trait and state anxiety scores were all significantly reduced during the treatment period. There was also a weak correlation between the extent of the improvement in the same anxiety score and the improvement in diastolic blood pressures.