Abstract
In a long-term follow-up study, 524 (93%) of 563 consecutive medical and psychiatric patients, who received an average of 8 sesisons of biofeedback and relaxation training, provided follow-up evaluations of treatment outcome. Seventy-five percent reported maximum, significant, or moderate improvement. There was a significant positive association between the percent of patients improved and the number of treatment sessions up to 10 sessions, but not thereafter. Symptom frequency decreased by 54% and symptom severity by 30%. About 54% of the medicated patients reported a decrease in medication. No differential therapist effects were found. About twice as many patients rated relaxation training as most helpful compared with the audio/visual signals from biofeedback instruments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrasik, F., & Blanchard, E. B. (1987). The biofeedback treatment of tension headache. In J. P. Hatch, J. G. Fisher, & J. D. Rugh (Eds.),Biofeedback: Studies in clinical efficacy (pp. 281–323). New York: Plenum Press.
Andrasik, F., Blanchard, E. B., Neff, D. F., & Rodichok, L. D. (1984). Biofeedback and relaxation training for chronic headache: A controlled comparison of booster treatments and regular contacts for long-term maintenance.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54 609–615.
Bernstein, D. A., & Borkovec, T. D. (1973).Progressive relaxation training: A manual for the helping professions. Champaign, IL: Research Press.
Blanchard, E. B., & Andrasik, F. (1987). Biofeedback treatment of vascular headache. In J. P. Hatch, J. G. Fisher, & J. D. Rugh (Eds.),Biofeedback: Studies in clinical efficacy (pp. 1–80). New York: Plenum Press.
Blanchard, E. B., Andrasik, F., Neff, D. F., Jurish, S. E., & O'Keefe, D. M. (1981). Social validation of the headache diary.Behavior Therapy, 12 711–715.
Blanchard, E. B., Andrasik, F., Neff, D. F., Saunders, N. L., Arena, J. G., Pallmeyer, T. P., Teders, S. J., Jurish, S. E., & Rodichok, L. D. (1983). Four process studies in the behavioral treatment of chronic headache.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 21 209–220.
Blanchard, E. B., McCoy, G. C., Musso, A., Acerra, M., Pallmeyer, T. P., Gerardi, R. J., Cotch, P., Siracusa, K., & Andrasik, F. (1986, March).A controlled comparison of thermal biofeedback and relaxation training in the treatment of essential hypertension: Short-term and long-term outcome. Paper presented at the Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the Biofeedback Society of America, San Francisco.
Bowen, W. T., & Androes, L. (1968). A follow-up study of 79 alcoholic patients: 1963–1965.Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 32 26–34.
Boyle, B. S. (1967).Shipley Institute of Living Scale. Hartford, CT: Neuro-Psychiatric Institute of the Hartford Retreat.
Cahn, T., & Cram, J. R. (1980). Changing measurement instruments at follow-up: A potential source of error.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 5 265–273.
Campbell, D. T., & Stanley, J. C. (1963).Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research. Chicago: Rand McNally.
Engel, B. T., Glasgow, M. S., & Gaarder, K. R. (1983). Behavioral treatment of high blood pressure: III. Follow-up results and treatment recommendations.Psychosomatic Medicine, 45 23–29.
Fahrion, S. L. (1977). Autogenic biofeedback treatment for migraine.Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 52 776–784.
Fuller, G. D. (1977).Biofeedback: Methods and procedures in clinical practice. San Francisco: Biofeedback Press (a division of the Biofeedback Institute of San Francisco).
Glasgow, M. S., & Engel, B. T. (1987). Clinical issues in biofeedback and relaxation therapy for hypertension: Review and recommendations. In J. P. Hatch, J. G. Fisher, & J. D. Rugh (Eds.),Biofeedback: Studies in clinical efficacy (pp. 81–122). New York: Plenum Press.
Hatch, J. P. (1987). Guidelines for controlled clinical trials of biofeedback. In J. P. Hatch, J. G., Fisher, & J. D. Rugh (Eds.),Biofeedback: Studies in clinical efficacy (pp. 323–365). New York: Plenum Press.
Hamberger, L. D., & Lohr, J. M. (1981, April).The effect of therapist's presence and response-contingent feedback in biofeedback relaxation training. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Detroit.
Hoelscher, T. J., Lichstein, K. L., & Rosenthal, T. L. (1986). Home relaxation practice in hypertension treatment: Objective assessment and compliance induction.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54 217–221.
Keefe, F. J., & Hoelscher, T. J. (1987). Biofeedback in the management of chronic pain syndrome. In J. P. Hatch, J. G. Fisher, & J. D. Rugh (Eds.),Biofeedback: Studies in clinical efficacy (pp. 211–254). New York: Plenum Press.
Kewman, D. G., & Roberts, A. H. (1983). An alternative perspective on biofeedback efficacy studies: A reply to Steiner and Dince.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 8 487–497.
Libo, L. M., & Arnold, G. E. (1983a). Relaxation practice after biofeedback therapy: A long-term follow-up study of utilization and effectiveness.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 8 217–227.
Libo, L. M., & Arnold, G. E. (1983b). Does training to criterion influence improvement? A follow-up study of EMG and thermal biofeedback.Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 6 397–404.
Mitch, P. S., McGrady, A., & Iannone, A. (1976). Autogenic feedback training in migraine: A treatment report.Headache, 15 267–270.
Olson, R. P., Ganley, R., Devine, V., & Dorsey, G. (1981). Long-term effects of behavioral versus insight-oriented therapy with inpatient alcoholics.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49 866–877.
Osgood, C. E., et al., (1967).The measurement of meaning. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Roberts, A. H., Kewman, D. G., & Macdonald, H. (1973). Voluntary control of skin temperature: Unilateral changes using hypnosis and feedback.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 82 163–168.
Roberts, A. H., Schuler, J., Bacon, J., Zimmerman, R. L., & Patterson, R. (1975). Individual differences and autonomic control: Absorption, hypnotic susceptibility, and the unilateral control of skin temperature.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 84 272–279.
Rosenbaum, L., Greco, P. S., Sternberg, C., & Singleton, G. L. (1981). Ongoing assessment: Experience of a university biofeedback clinic.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6 103–112.
Sargent, J. D., Green, E. E., & Walters, E. D. (1973). Preliminary report on the use of autogenic feedback training in the treatment of migraine and tension headaches.Psychosomatic Medicine, 35 129–135.
Sargent, J., Solbach, P., Coyne, L., Spohn, H., & Segerson, J. (1986). Results of a controlled, experimental, outcome study of non-drug treatments for the control of chronic migraine headaches.Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 9 291–323.
Smith, M. L., & Glass, G. V. (1977). Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies.American Psychologist, 32 752–760.
Smith, M. L., Glass, G. V., & Miller, T. I. (1980).The benefits of psychotherapy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press.
Sobell, M. B., & Sobell, L. C. (1973). Second year treatment outcome of alcoholics treated by individualized behavior therapy.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 4 49–72.
Steiner, S. S., & Dince, W. M. (1981). Biofeedback efficacy studies: A critique of critiques.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6 275–288.
Taub, E., & School, P. J. (1978). Some methodological considerations in thermal biofeedback training.Behavior Research Methods and Instrumentation, 10 617–622.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was funded in part by the Minneapolis Clinic Medical Foundation. The author wishes to thank the biofeedback therapists for their cooperation and excellent service: Jones Adkins, Mike Schwieters, and Suzanne Kroon, especially the latter for her assistance in this program evaluation project. Vital contributions were made by secretarial staff, including Ann Hovde and Linda Bruch. Two undergraduate honors students in psychology from the University of Minnesota also provided important assistance: Steve Ristvedt and Shirley Fors. Computer and statistical consultation was provided by Terri Schultz and Dr. Sanford Weisberg of the St. Paul Computer Center.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paul Olson, R. A long-term, single-group follow-up study of biofeedback therapy with chronic medical and psychiatric patients. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 13, 331–346 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999088
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999088