title: A long-term, single-group follow-up study of biofeedback therapy with chronic medical and psychiatric patients.
abstract: In a long-term follow-up study, 524 (93%) of 563 consecutive medical and psychiatric patients, who received an average of 8 sessions 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.
authors.affiliation: Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012064:Relaxation Therapy