Autogenic training consists of reaching a state of deep relaxation through mental representations of physical sensations in different parts of the body. It is a promising technique for improving the psychological well-being of people with chronic diseases, but there are no clinical practice guidelines recommending the use of autogenic training in this population. The aim of this work was to identify, critically evaluate, and synthesize the available evidence on the safety and effectiveness of autogenic training in the prevention and treatment of medical conditions.

We conducted a systematic search for systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The selection and assessment of risk of bias of the included studies was carried out independently by two reviewers.

A total of 2,420 references were identified after eliminating duplicates. Of these, 141 were selected for reading the full text, and 13 systematic reviews and 18 RCTs were included. Compared with no intervention or delayed treatment, autogenic training significantly reduced levels of anxiety and depression as well as some physical symptoms (e.g., headaches and atopic dermatitis).

Autogenic training could be useful for improving the psychological well-being and physical symptoms of patients with chronic health conditions and as an additional element in multicomponent intervention programs. However, these conclusions are not definitive due to the low number of studies available for each health condition and their high or unclear risk of bias.