Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

EMG Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation Training in the Treatment of Reactive Depression in Chronic Pain Patients

  • Article
  • Published:
The Psychological Record Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eight chronic pain patients (6 males and 2 females) diagnosed as presenting reactive depression were randomly divided into two groups. Following individual assessment with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), prescription of antidepressant medication, and electromyographic (EMG) measurement of forehead muscle tension, one group received EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BRT) and another group conventional medical treatment (TC). A final assessment was carried out on both (BRT and TC) groups immediately after 4 months of treatment. The BRT subjects showed significant reductions in EMG forehead muscle tension, T scores on the MMPI scale 2 (depression), and antidepressant medication following treatment compared to TC subjects. It is concluded that EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation training is an effective biobehavioral treatment modality for reducing forehead muscle tension, elective antidepressant medication, and reactive depression of pain patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ABRAMSON, L. Y., SELIGMAN, M. E. P., & TEASDALE, J. D. (1978). Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 49–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ALARCON, R. D., & CORI, L. (1972). The precipitating event in depression. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 155, 379–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BECK, A. T. (1970). Cognitive therapy; nature and relation to behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy, 7, 184–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BECK, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorder. New York: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • BELLACK, A. S., HERSEN, M., & HIMMELHOCH, J. M. (1981). Social skills training, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy for unipolar depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 1562–1567.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BELLACK, A. S., HERSEN, M., & HIMMELHOCH, J. M. (1983). A comparison of social skills training, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for depression. Behavior Research Therapy, 21, 101–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BLANCHARD, E. B., ANDRASIK, F., APPELBAUM, K. A., EVANS, D. D., MYERS, P., & BARRON, K. D. (1986). Three studies of the psychological changes in chronic headache patients associated with biofeedback and relaxation therapy. Psychosomatic Medicine, 48, 73–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BRUDNY, J., GRYNBAUM, B. B., & KOREIN, J. (1974). Spasmodic torticollis: Treatment by feedback display of the EMG. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 55, 403–408.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BUDZYNSKI, T. H. (1974). Bma audio cassette program. Warren, Michigan: Bio-Medical Instruments.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUDZYNSKI, T., STOYVA, J. M., ADLER, C. S., & MULLANEY, D. J. (1973). Emg biofeedback and tension headache: A controlled outcome study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 35, 484–496.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BUSH, C., DITTO, B., & FEUERSTEIN, M. (1985). A controlled evaluation of paraspinal Emg biofeedback in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Health Psychology, 4, (4), 307–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • COX, D., & THOMAS, D. (1981). Relationship between headaches and depression. Headache, 261–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • DAHLSTROM, W. G., WELSH, G. S., & DALSTROM, L. E. (1972). An Mmpihandbook (Vol. 1): Clinical interpretation. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • DELK, J. L. (1977). Use of Emg biofeedback in behavioral treatment of an obsessive-phobic-depressive syndrome. Diseases of the Nervous System, 38, 938–939.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DEROGATIS, L., AVELLA, J., & LONG, D. (1977). Emg biofeedback in patients with chronic pain. Diseases of the Nervous System, 38, 505–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DONAT, D. C., & MCCULLOUGH, J. P. (1983). Psychophysiological determinants of depression at rest and in response to stress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39, 315–320.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FISHBEIN, D. (1985). Biofeedback applications to psychiatric disorder. The Psycholgoical Record, 35, 3–21..

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FUTTERMAN, A. D., & SHAPIRO, D. (1986). A review of biofeedback for mental disorders. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 37, 27–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • HATHAWAY, S. R., & MEEHL, P. E. (1951). An atlas for the clincial use of the Mmpi, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • HENDLER, N., DEROGATIS, L., AVELLA, G., & LONG, D., (1977). EMG biofeedback in patients with chronic pain. Diseases of the Nervous System, 38, 505–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • HERSEN, M., BELLACK, A. S., HIMMELHOCH, J. M., & THOSE, M. E. (1984). Effects of social skills training, amitriptyline, and psychotherapy in unipolar depressed women. Behavior Therapy, 15, 21–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KEEFE, F. J., SCHOPIRA, B., WILLIAMS, R. B., BROWN, C., & SURWIT, R. S. (1981). Emg-assisted relaxation training in the management of chronic low back pain. American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 4, 93–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • KLEE, S., & MEYER, R. G. (1981). Alleviation of performance deficits of depression through thermal biofeedback training. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 37, 515–518.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KOTSES, H., & LAYH, J. P. (1981). Correlation between sample and integrated measures of Emg activity. American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 4, 117–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • LEWINSOHN, P. M., WEINSTEIN, M. S., & ALPER, T. (1970). A behavioral approach to the group treatment of depressed persons: A methodological contribution. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 26, 525–532.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LIPOWSKI, Z. J. (1975). Psychiatry of somatic diseases: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, classification. Comparative Psychiatry, 16, 105–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LUBORSKY, L., SINGER, B., & LUBORSKY, L. (1975). Comparative studies of psychotherapies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 995–1008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MENDELS, J. (1970). Concepts of depression. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • MORRIS, J. B., & BECK, A. T. (1974). The efficacy of antidepressant drugs: A review of research (1958–1972). Archives of General Psychiatry, 30, 667–674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PENISTON, E. G. (1986). EMG biofeedback-assisted desensitization treatment for Vietnam combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinical Bio feedback and Health, 9, (1), 35–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • PENISTON, E. G., & HUGHES, R. B. (1986). Use of the Mmpi and Pat as evaluative measures of chronic pain. Clinical Biofeedback and Health, 9, (1), 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • PENISTON, E. G., & KAO, P. C. (1985). Role of biofeedback-assisted relaxation training in muscle tension and analgesia. Clinical Biofeedback and Health, 8, (1), 163–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • QUALLS, P. J., & SHEEHAN, P. N. (1981). Electromyograph biofeedback as a relaxation technique: A critical appraisal and reassessment. Psychological Bulletin, 90, 21–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • REISINGER, J. J. (1972). The treatment of “anxiety-depression” via positive reinforcement and response cost. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 5, 125–130.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • ROBINSON, J. D., & LEWINSOHN, P. M. (1973). Experimental analysis of a technique based on the Premack Principle changing verbal behavior of depressed individuals. Psychological Reports 32, 199–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ROSENHAN, D. L., & SELIGMAN, M. E. P. (1984). Abnormal psychology. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • ROTH, D., BIELSKI, R., JONES, M., PARKER, W., & OSBORN, G. (1982). A comparison of self-control therapy and combined self-control therapy and antidepressant medication in the treatment of depression. Behavior Therapy, 13, 133–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RUSH, A. J., & BECK. A. T. (1977, April). Cognitive approaches to depression: Empirical basis for theory and therapy. Paper presented at the Loyola University Symposium: New directions in the understanding and treatment of depression, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • RYBSTEIN-BLINCHNIK, E. (1979). The effects of different cognitive strategies on chronic pain experience. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2, 93–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SARGENT, J. D., GREEN, E. E., & WALTER, 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.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SCHWAB, J. J., BROWN, G. M., & HOLZER, C. E. (1967). Sociocultural aspects of depression in medical inpatients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 17, 533–541.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SELIGMAN, M. E. P. (1972). Learned helplessness. Annual Review of Medicine, 23, 407–412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SELIGMAN, M. E. P. (1975a). Depression and learned helplessness. In R. J. Friedman & M. M. Katz (Eds.), The psychology of depression: Contemporary theory and research. Washington: Winston-Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • SELIGMAN, M. E. P. (1975b). Helplessness: On depression, development, and death. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • SELIGMAN, M. E. P., KLEIN, D. C., & MILLERS, W. R. (1975). Depression. In H. Leitenberg (Ed.), Handbook of behavior modification and behavior therapy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • SOVAK, N., KUNZEL, M., STERNBACH, R. A., & DALESSIO, D. (1981). Mechanism of the biofeedback therapy of migraine: Volitional manipulation of the psychophysiological background. Headache, 21, 261–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • STERN, G. S., BERRENBERG, J. L., WINN, D., & DUBOIS, P. L. (1978). Perceived control: Contingent and noncontingent feedback in pulse-rate change and reduction in depressive cognitions. Bio feedback and Self Regulation, 3, 277–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • STERNBACH, R. (1974). Pain patients—Traits and treatment. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • TASTO, D. L., & CHESNEY, M. A. (1974). Muscle relaxation treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. Behavior Therapy, 5, 668–672.

    Google Scholar 

  • TURK, D. C., MEICHENBAUM, D. H., & BERMAN, W. H. (1979). Application of biofeedback for the regulation of pain: A critical review. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 1322–1338.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WEISS, T., & ENGEL, B. T. (1971). Operant conditioning of heart rate in patients with premature ventricular contractions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 33, 301–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WENTWORTH-ROHR, I. (1984). Symptom reduction through clinical biofeedback. New York: Human Sciences Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHITE, L., & TURSKY, B. (1982). Clinical biofeedback: Efficacy and mechanisms. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • WIENER, D. N., & HARMON, L. R. (1946). Subtle and obvious keys for the Mmpi: Their development. Advisement Bulletin No. 16, Regional Veterans Administration Office, Minneapolis.

    Google Scholar 

  • WOLPE, J. (1971). Neurotic depression: Experimental analog, clinical syndromes, and treatment. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 25, 362–368.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WOLPE, J., & LAZARUS, A. (1966). Behavior therapy techniques. New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Service (116B), VA Medical Center, Fort Lyon, CO, 81038, USA

    Eugene G. Peniston

  2. High Plains Baptist Hospital, Amarillo, Texas, USA

    Robert B. Hughes

  3. University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo, USA

    Paul J. Kulkosky

Authors
  1. Eugene G. Peniston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert B. Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul J. Kulkosky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Special thanks to Fort Lyon VA Medical Center for support of the study and to M. Sanchez for his assistance.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Peniston, E.G., Hughes, R.B. & Kulkosky, P.J. EMG Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation Training in the Treatment of Reactive Depression in Chronic Pain Patients. Psychol Rec 36, 471–482 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394967

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394967

Search

Navigation