Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation therapy on reducing violent behavior in schizophrenia patients: a quasi-experimental study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35816/jiksh.v15i2.333Keywords:
progressive muscle relaxation, schizophrenia, violent behavior, psychiatric nursingAbstract
Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder often associated with aggressive and violent behavior, which can negatively impact patient safety and quality of care. Non-pharmacological interventions such as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) are increasingly used to manage behavioral symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PMR therapy in reducing violent behavior among schizophrenia patients.
Research Methodology: This study employed a quantitative quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest–posttest approach. The sample consisted of 29 schizophrenia patients with violent behavior selected using purposive sampling at a regional psychiatric hospital in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data were collected using an observation checklist. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare pre- and post-intervention scores.
Results: The mean score of violent behavior significantly decreased from 7.86 (SD = 2.386) at pretest to 3.14 (SD = 1.156) at posttest. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention (p = 0.000; p < 0.05). These findings indicate that PMR therapy effectively reduces violent behavior in schizophrenia patients.
Conclusion: Progressive muscle relaxation is an effective, safe, and practical non-pharmacological intervention to reduce violent behavior in schizophrenia patients. It can be integrated into psychiatric nursing care to improve emotional regulation and patient outcomes.
Downloads
References
Algaidi, S. A. (2025). Chronic stress-induced neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex: Structural, functional, and molecular mechanisms from development to aging. Brain Research, 1851, 149461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2025.149461
Asenjo-Lobos, C., Arancibia, M., Garcia-Ribera, C., Cortés-Jofré, M., Huang, T., Li, T., Madrid, E., & Leucht, S. (2025). Comparative efficacy and safety of Clozapine vs. Quetiapine in schizophrenia and related disorders: An updated systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 353, 116764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116764
Azargoonjahromi, A., & Bahrampour, Z. (2025). Sleep disturbances are associated with psychosis in schizophrenia spectrum Disorders: An umbrella review. Sleep Medicine, 134, 106690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2025.106690
Crandon, T. J., Vivian, E. R., Jach, M., Rantanen, L. M., Quek, H., Lupton, M. K., White, A. R., & Thomas, J. T. (2026). Wildfires, brain health and mental health: A narrative review on the physiological and psychological interplay. Science of The Total Environment, 1028, 181731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181731
Fornaro, M., Caiazza, C., De Simone, G., Rossano, F., & de Bartolomeis, A. (2024). Insomnia and related mental health conditions: Essential neurobiological underpinnings towards reduced polypharmacy utilization rates. Sleep Medicine, 113, 198–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.11.033
Froeliger, A., Deneux-Tharaux, C., Sutter-Dallay, A.-L., Bouchghoul, H., Loussert, L., Madar, H., & Sentilhes, L. (2026). Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder and postpartum depression following cesarean delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 233(6), S199–S215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2025.03.040
Goldstein, K. E., Pietrzak, R. H., Aladin, S., Ng, S., Chan, C. C., Perez-Rodriguez, M. M., Shafritz, K. M., Kahn, R. S., McClure, M. M., Szeszko, P. R., & Hazlett, E. A. (2025). Neuro- and social-cognition in schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia: A spectrum of severity. Psychiatry Research, 348, 116445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116445
Haws, J. K., & Lack, C. W. (2025). Virtual Reality and Mental Health. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2025.08.021
Huang, C., Wu, Z., Sha, S., Liu, C., Yang, L., Jiang, P., Zhang, H., & Yang, C. (2025). The Dark Side of Empathy: The Role of Excessive Affective Empathy in Mental Health Disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 98(5), 404–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.12.020
Hussain, Y., Suraweera, B. G. S., & Malik, A. S. (2026). Unraveling cognitive impairments in mental and neurological disorders: A biomarker-based mapping framework. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 180, 106426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106426
Jiang, C., Ge, X., Wu, C., Zhang, X., & Fang, X. (2026). Accelerated aging in psychiatric disorders: evidence from epigenetic clocks. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 145, 111632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2026.111632
Kamal, N., Saharan, B. S., Duhan, J. S., Kumar, A., Chaudhary, P., Goyal, C., Kumar, M., Goyat, N., Sindhu, M., & Mudgil, P. (2025). Exploring the promise of psychobiotics: Bridging gut microbiota and mental health for a flourishing society. Medicine in Microecology, 23, 100118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100118
Kusuma, M. D. S., Ida Ayu Putri Wulandari, I Gusti Ayu Rai Rahayuni, & Anak Agung Ayu Yuliati Darmini. (2026). Depressive Symptoms, Resilience, and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults with Non-Communicable Diseases: A Correlational Study. Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada, 15(1), 338–346. https://doi.org/10.35816/jiksh.v15i1.264
Lieberman, J. A., Mendelsohn, A., Goldberg, T. E., & Emsley, R. (2025). Preventing disease progression in schizophrenia: What are we waiting for. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 181, 716–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.12.042
Meroni, M., Longo, M., Paolini, E., & Dongiovanni, P. (2025). A narrative review about cognitive impairment in Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): Another matter to face through a holistic approach. Journal of Advanced Research, 68, 231–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2024.02.007
Moini, J., LoGalbo, A., Gutierrez, A., & Aragon, P. J. (2025). Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. In J. Moini, A. LoGalbo, A. Gutierrez, & P. J. B. T.-E. of M. H. Aragon (Eds.), Essentials of Mental Health (pp. 135–152). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22313-6.00018-0
Moumgiakmas, S. S., Vrochidou, E., & Papakostas, G. A. (2025). Mapping the brain: AI-driven radiomic approaches to mental disorders. Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, 168, 103219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artmed.2025.103219
Oladeji, B., Oladele, O., & Gureje, O. (2025). Mental Health: Morbidity and Impact. In S. R. B. T.-I. E. of P. H. (Third E. Quah (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Public Health (pp. 272–286). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.00188-5
Suprapto, Kamaruddin, M. I., Herlianty, & Nurhanifah, D. (2024). Building Nurse Competency Strategy at Public Health Center in Indonesia: A Descriptive Qualitative Approach. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 15(03), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2024.v15i03.008
Surti, T. S. (2024). Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia. In J. D. B. T.-E. of the N. S. (Third E. England (Ed.), Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology (pp. 147–157). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95702-1.00074-9
Takei, Y., Sunaga, M., Fujihara, K., Ohki, T., Kato, Y., & Jinde, S. (2026). Hyperlearning Hypothesis: Network disruption and maladaptive learning in schizophrenia. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 144, 111599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111599
Vecchiarelli, H. A., Baglot, S. L., Black, T., Choi, E. Y., Cupo, L., Sandberg, C., Siron, L., Chakravarty, M. M., Hill, M. N., Howland, J. G., Khokhar, J. Y., & Tremblay, M.-È. (2026). Effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on offspring mental health: A focus on the role of the immune system. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 181, 106488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106488
Villamil-Parra, W., & Moscoso-Loaiza, L. (2024). Effects of physical exercise on Irisin and BDNF concentrations, and their relationship with cardiometabolic and mental health of individuals with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Experimental Gerontology, 198, 112640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2024.112640
Villringer, A., Nikulin, V. V, & Gaebler, M. (2025). Brain–body states as a link between cardiovascular and mental health. Trends in Neurosciences, 48(10), 766–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2025.08.004
Vita, A., Nibbio, G., & Barlati, S. (2024). Conceptualization and characterization of “primary” and “secondary” cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 340, 116126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116126
Zhang, R., Yuan, Z., Pan, B., Ling, Y., Zhou, T., Xu, R., & Mao, K. (2026). DSTA: A dual-channel deep learning framework with spatiotemporal attention for schizophrenia screening. Neurocomputing, 680, 133293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2026.133293
Zhu, D., Chang, F., Yang, H., Wei, Y., & Liu, Z. (2026). Assessing Usage and Usability of a Narrative-Based Psychoeducational Digital Intervention to Improve Medication Adherence Among Individuals With Schizophrenia in a Stable Phase: Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28, e59175–e59175. https://doi.org/10.2196/59175
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abdullah Abdullah, Abubakar Betan, Yanti Mustarin, Susi Susanti, Nur Ambiy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Statement:
The authors retain the copyright of this work and grant Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada the right of first publication. The work is simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the initial publication in this journal are properly credited.
The authors are permitted to copy and redistribute the published version of the work, including posting it to an institutional repository or including it in a book, with acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Syaiful Bachri, Abubakar Betan, Samila Samila, Yenny Sima, Abdullah Abdullah, Nur Anbiya, Transformational leadership and employee performance in hospitals: An Explanatory Survey with Path Analysis Approach , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
Similar Articles
- Syarif B, Umar Dg. Palallo, Sriyana Herman, Implementation of effective communication in interprofessional collaboration to improve inpatient services , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Mulyanti, Dian Meiliani Yulis, Hairuddin K, Analysis of social determinants with quality of life in people with HIV/AIDS at the voluntary counseling test clinic , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Haryo Ganeca Widyatama, Dietha Kusumaningrum, James Bernardo Rajagukguk, Mesty Mela Safitri, Inaya Larang Asri, Vaginal cleansing soap causes pathological vaginal discharge: a case study , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- La Ode Asrianto, Teti Susliyanti Hasiu, Wa Ode Nusyuhada, Ahmad Noor, Dedi Harfan, Community-based social network analysis measuring tuberculosis control intervention impact: A quasi-experimental study , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Suprapto Suprapto, Tirta Asprimi Angreani, Amir Hossein Goudarzian, Demographic and policy determinants of stunting among under-five children in Indonesia: A qualitative public health perspective , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Meysa Ayu Cahyani, Agus Sudaryanto, Dental odyssey: a comprehensive literature review on global strategies, behavioral programs, and creative approaches for ages 6-12 years , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 13 No. 1 (2024): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Sarifudin Andi Latif, Arlin Adam, Syamsu A Kamaruddin, Economic Income as a Cause of Stunting: An Analysis Based on the Perspective of Karl Marx: Literature Review , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 14 No. 1 (2025): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Muhammad Ilyas, Samsu A. Kamaruddin, Arlin Adam, Construction of the image of healthy living in a digital germ campaign: Kritis Analysis Jean Baudrillard , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 14 No. 2 (2025): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Nilawati Adam, Julia Fitrianingsih, Muhammad Basir, Role of knowledge in improving attitudes and behaviors of stunting prevention in pregnant women , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
- Yenny Okvitasari, The effect of knowledge level on IUD contraceptive use in women of childbearing age , Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada: Vol. 13 No. 1 (2024): Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada
<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
