title: Biofeedback for anismus: has placebo effect been overlooked?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple uncontrolled studies have concluded that biofeedback is successful in treating anismus. This study's objective was to assess the physiological effects of placebo and biofeedback treatment on patients with anismus and to correlate changes with clinical improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with symptoms and electrophysiological findings of anismus were studied. Initial assessment included a detailed history, symptom assessment by linear analogue scales, anorectal manometric and electrophysiological studies, colon transit scintigraphy, and scintigraphic proctography. Patients underwent 5 days of placebo treatment, followed 1 week later by re-assessment of symptoms and physiological studies. Five days of biofeedback was then given followed by another complete re-assessment 1 week later. A final interview was performed 2 months later. All assessments were by an independent observer who was not responsible for the treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients reported an overall improvement in symptoms following placebo treatment. A total of seven patients reported improvement following biofeedback, three of whom had already reported an improvement with placebo. One patient who reported improvement following placebo had worsening of symptoms following biofeedback. The only symptoms or tests which changed more with biofeedback than placebo were anal pressure and electromyographic activity on attempted defaecation in the left lateral position. There was no demonstrable correlation between change in symptoms and change in physiological tests. The scintigraphic 'ejection fraction' of the rectum was unchanged by treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical improvement in previous studies may in part be due to placebo effect and observer bias. Improvement with biofeedback may be due to physiological changes which are not detected with conventional anorectal physiological tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia, Department of Nuclear Medicine, St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.lastname: Meagher
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.lastname: Lubowski