title: Character defenses and biofeedback. The problems of symptom chronicity and symptom removal.
abstract: One aspect of biofeedback treatment with chronically incapacitated persons concerns their resistance to getting better. In effect, the removal of their symptom is equivalent to undercutting a characteristic way of relating to themselves and to the world, and hence, is opposed. Even though many biofeedback procedures are impressively effective, the therapist must watch for another symptom reemerging in the place of the older somatic complaint, or for psychologically regressive attempts to preserve one's character defenses.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis