Eczema isa skin condition with a multifaceted aetiology that includes both psychological and physiological components.A number of studies have indicated that cognitive-behavioural techniques (e.g. relaxation) are effective inthe treatment of atopic eczema. However, it remains unclear from the literature whether different relaxationtechniques have comparable treatment effects. The current study compared the efficacy of a single relaxationsession with an imagery component with that of a comparable relaxation session without the imagery component.Eczema patients (n=9) who participated in relaxation with imagery reported significantly greaterreductions in state anxiety and subjective ratings of itchiness and significantly greater increases in mentalrelaxation levels than eczema patients (n=9) who participated in relaxation without the imagerycomponent. No group differences were found on changes in state anger. These results suggest that relaxationwith an imagery component may be more effective than relaxation without an imagery component in lowering stateanxiety levels and itchy sensations of atopic eczema patients.