The classic method of autogenic training was developed by the German psychotherapist I. G. Schultz (1932). The widespread introduction of autogenic training into clinical practice began in the 1950s, primarily for the treatment of neuroses, depressive states, and psychosomatic diseases. In the traditional understanding, the main element of autogenic training is the formation of the ability to cause desired organic and mental effects using verbal formulations (auto—suggestion formulas) and operate them in accordance with a predetermined goal (relaxation, falling asleep, activation, removal of negative emotional experiences, etc.). A necessary condition for this is to focus on the sphere of one’s own feelings and experiences self-observation of the course of internal processes and presentation of the desired change. During the course of autogenic training, stable connections are formed between the formulas of autosuggestion and the occurrence of certain changes in the corresponding psychophysiological systems. The effectiveness of such connections depends on the development of self-observation skills, individually used systems of imaginative representations and ideomotor acts.

There are two stages of autogenic training (according to Schultz):

1) The lowest stage is relaxation training through exercises aimed at causing a feeling of heaviness, warmth, and mastering the rhythm of heart activity and breathing. The lowest stage, autogenic training, consists of six standard exercises, which are performed by patients in one of three poses: a) sitting position, “coachman’s pose” – the trainee sits on a chair with his head slightly lowered forward, hands and forearms lie freely on the front surface of the hips, legs are freely spaced; b) prone position – the trainee lies on his back, his head rests on a low pillow, his arms, slightly bent at the elbow joint, lie freely along the body, palms down; c) reclining position – the trainee sits freely in an armchair, leaning on the back, hands on the front of the hips or on the armrests, legs freely spaced. In all three positions, complete relaxation is achieved, and the eyes are closed for better concentration. 2) The highest stage is autogenic meditation – the creation of trance states of various levels.

Autogenic training is most effective in the treatment of:

• neurosis (with obsessive–compulsive disorder, this is a phobic syndrome);
• functional disorders;
• psychosomatic diseases;
• Neurasthenia (psychogenic sexual disorders and sleep disorders);
• satisfactory results in the treatment of obsessions;
• Psychasthenia gravis.

The best results of using autogenic training are observed in the treatment of those diseases, the manifestations of which are associated with emotional stress and smooth muscle spasm.:

• bronchial asthma;
• obliterating endarteritis;
• dyspnea;
• esophagospasm;
• Angina pectoris;
• spastic pain of the gastrointestinal tract and constipation;
• neurotic disorders of speech and phonation (relief of the phenomenon of logophobia; does not cure stuttering as a systemic neurosis);
• peptic ulcer disease;
• alcoholism and drug addiction (in particular, to eliminate withdrawal symptoms and form an antitoxic attitude);
• organic diseases of the nervous system (relief of psychogenic disorders);
• correction of personality reaction;
• a disease with vascular lesions of the brain;
• residual effects of traumatic brain injuries;
• neuroinfections, etc.

The successful relief of emotional stress and anxiety through autogenic training justifies its inclusion in numerous variants of methods of psychoprophylaxis of labor pains. Autogenic training has also been widely used as a psychohygienic and psychoprophylactic agent in the training of athletes, people working under conditions of emotional tension and in extreme conditions. Contraindications for the use of autogenic training: states of unclear consciousness and delirium, especially delirium of attitude and impact. Autogenic training is not recommended during acute somatic seizures and vegetative crises. Source: Psychologos