Biofeedback

Psychotherapy focused on reducing the influence of the CNS on the gut has been studied. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dynamic psychotherapy, relaxation therapy, and hypnotherapy have been reported to be effective in some patients. However, CBT and relaxation therapy do not appear to be better than standard approaches.18 Biofeedback may provide relief in cases of severe constipation, but definitive evidence is lacking.16 Psychotherapy interventions provide relief from pain and diarrhea but not constipation.19... 

Biofeedback (use of visual or auditory feedback to reduce tension). 

Complementary and alternative medicine therapies, such as acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic manipulation, dietary supplements, herbal therapy, and homeopathic preparations, are used by individuals with allergic rhinitis.29,30 Use of bromelain, gingko, ginseng, licorice, quercetin, and Urtica dioica has been reported, but large-scale studies documenting efficacy are lacking.31,32 Caregivers should inquire routinely about patients use of alternative therapies and counsel patients about the lack of validated data to support such practices.12... 

Taub, E., Steiner, S., Weingarten, E., and Walton, K., Effectiveness of broad spectrum approaches to relapse prevention in severe alcohlism A long term, randomized, controlled trial of Transcendental Meditation, EMG biofeedback and electronic eurotherapy. Special Issue Self-recovery Treating addictions using transcendental meditation and Maharishi Ayur-Veda. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11 (1-2), 187-220, 1994. 

Nonpharmacologic interventions are classified as behavioral interventions and include relaxation, biofeedback, self-hypnosis, cognitive distraction, guided imagery, and systematic desensitization. 

Constipation commonly occurs during pregnancy. Nondrug modalities such as education, physical exercise, biofeedback, and increased intake of dietary fiber and fluid should be instituted first. 

For tension headaches during pregnancy, nonpharmacologic approaches are first-line therapies, including exercise, biofeedback, and massage. If drug therapy is needed, acetaminophen is the first choice. 

Behavioral interventions (relaxation therapy, biofeedback, cognitive therapy) are preventive options for patients who prefer nondrug therapy or when drug therapy is ineffective or not tolerated. 

Nonpharmacologic therapies include reassurance and counseling, stress management, relaxation training, and biofeedback. Physical therapeutic options (e.g., heat or cold packs, ultrasound, electrical nerve stimulation, massage, acupuncture, trigger point injections, occipital nerve blocks) have performed inconsistently. 

Psychotherapies for PTSD include anxiety management (e.g., stress-inoculation training, relaxation training, biofeedback, distraction techniques), CBT, group therapy, hypnosis, psychodynamic therapies, and psychoeducation. Psychotherapy may be used in patients with mild symptoms, those who prefer not to use medications, or in conjunction with drugs in those with severe symptoms to improve response. 

Pain assessment in children and adolescents is a subject unto itself, and one that any clinician working with a child in pain must be familiar with (Franck et ah, 2000). Treatment of pain in children and adolescents must include cognitive-behavioral interventions such as preparation and rehearsal, hypnosis, guided imagery, breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and distraction consideration of other complementary interventions such as acupuncture or biofeedback is common (Powers, 1999 Chen et ah, 2000 Rusy and Weisman, 2000). 

Porena, M., Costantini, E., Rociola, W., and Mearini, E. (2000) Biofeedback successfully cures detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in pediatric patients. / Urol 163 1927-1931. 

Biofeedback uses the idea that human beings have the ability to control the automatic functions of their bodies. For instance, a person can be trained to raise the temperature of... 

Bio feedback has been shown to have many beneficial uses. One example is the use of biofeedback to curtail the pain of migraine headaches. People trained in biofeedback can divert blood to their heads and arms and cause their hands to quickly become warmer than normal. This can effectively ease a migraine because it reduces the amount of blood in the blood... 

Biofeedback uses a special machine and sensors to record muscle contractions and skin temperature. The machine can tell the person what affect his or her concentration is having on things like blood flow and body temperature. Eventually, the person can recognize and manage these responses on his or her own. 

In addition to adequate pharmacotherapy, specific forms of psychotherapy may also be indicated. These may include cognitive or interpersonal psychotherapy or various behavior desensitization and biofeedback techniques. Some patients may benefit from insight-oriented psychotherapy group, family, or marital counseling or both. Finally, in more chronic disorders, patients often benefit from vocational rehabilitation. A knowledgeable clinician realizes that these disorders do not occur in a vacuum, and, regardless of diagnosis, each patient requires an individualized treatment plan to optimize outcome. 

Relaxation techniques can address increased arousal, which can be somatic, cognitive, or both. Somatic arousal is usually modified by muscle relaxation and/or biofeedback, whereas increased cognitive arousal can be moderated by attention-focusing procedures, such as imagery training or meditation. 

Lazarus, R. 1975a A cognitively oriented psychologist looks at biofeedback, American Psychologist 30,553-61. 

The first step, relaxation, involved achieving not only deep physical relaxation but also deep mental relaxation. The induction of such a relaxed state often required a considerable length of time, especially in the beginning it was not unusual for percipients to spend five to ten minutes on this step alone, even after they had learned it well. Modem systematic techniques for relaxing the body, such as Jacobson s progressive relaxation [38], autogenic training [119], or biofeedback procedures would probably work well. Comfortable meditative postures would probably also be effective. 

Three studies of EEG alpha feedback. Biofeedback Soc. Proc., 1969, Part 3, 14-19. 

Urinary incontinence, or leakage, that may be associated with diuretic use can cause social embarrassment, self-esteem issues, depression, and anxiety. A person suffering from incontinence may stop participating in social activities, sports, and other activities they once enjoyed because of the risk of embarrassing accidents. Bladder training, biofeedback, pelvic toning exercises, or special urethral or vaginal inserts may help to treat urinary incontinence problems related to diuretics. 

A systematic review of the literature aimed to assess the effectiveness of any type of complementary therapy for intermittent claudication revealed that there is no evidence of effectiveness of acupuncture, biofeedback therapy, chelation therapy, CO(2)-applications and the dietary supplements of Allium sativum (garlic), omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E (86). 

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