What is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is one of many tools that Dr. Schwartz utilizes to treat health conditions and improve quality of life.  It is a very basic, yet extremely effective physiological monitoring tool.  It is a non-invasive “treatment” in which patients are connected to a computer via electrodes to obtain information such as temperature, sweat gland activity, muscle tension, breathing, and heart functioning [NOT for treating or diagnosing heart conditions]. These measurements represent common physiological reactions to anxiety, stress, chronic pain and discomfort; even depression and trauma.  This data is then “fed back” to the individual via information displayed on a computer monitor. This information can be monitored while performing relaxation exercises, hypnotherapy sessions, during psychotherapy, etc; thus making it an outstanding learning and awareness tool.

The therapist and the patient then use this information to increase physiological awareness; re-train biological processes such as the stress response, muscle tension training, blood pressure reduction, etc.  Furthermore, the data can also be used to condition a general physiological/emotional balance.  Biofeedback can be either used alone as a tool, or be combined with such treatments as psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, hypnotherapy, counseling, and visualizations to enhance its effectiveness.

Conditions Shown Effective for Biofeedback

  • Hypertension (Health and Public Committee 1985)
  • Migraine headaches (Penzien et al 2002)
  • Tension headaches (Penzien et al 2002)
  • Functional cardiac pain (chest pain not caused by a heart attack)
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction (Kimmons 2003; Floratos et al 2002; Glazer et al 1995)
  • Raynauds’ syndrome (very cold hands) (Surwit et al 1978; Freedman et al 1983; 1989)
  • Chronic pain conditions including Fibromyalgia (Middaugh and Pawlick 2002)
  • Symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatment (Burish and Jenkins 1992; Tyre et al 1987; Carey and Burish. 1988)
  • Cancer associated pain symptoms (NIH 1995; Breitbart 1989)
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder [TMJ] (jaw pain) (Gevirtz 1995 In Schwartz 1995)
  • Digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (Schwartz 1995; Drossman and Thompson 1992)
  • Stress/Anxiety reduction and Relaxation.

References

Breitbart, W. (1989).  Psychiatric management of cancer pain.  Cancer, 63(11), Suppl: 2336-2342.

Burish, T.G. and Jenkins, R.A. (1992).  Effectiveness of biofeedback and relaxation training in reducing side effects of cancer chemotherapy.  Health Psychology, 11(1), 17-23.

Carey, M.P. and Burish, T.G. (1988).  Etiology and treatment of the psychological side effects associated with cancer chemotherapy: a critical review and discussion.  Psychological Bulletin, 104(3), 307-325.

Drossman, D.A. and Thompson, W.G. (1992).  The irritable bowel syndrome: review and a graduated multicomponent treatment approach.  Annals of Internal Medicine, 116, 1009-1016.

Floratos, D.L., Sonke, G.S., Rapidou, C.A., Alivizatos, G.J., Deliveliotos, C., Constantinides, C.A., et al. (2002).  Biofeedback vs verbal feedback as learning tools for pelvic muscle exercises in the early management of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. British Journal of Urology (BJU) International, 89, 714-719.

Freedman, R.R. (1989).  Quantitative measurements of finger blood flow during behavioral treatments for Raynaud’s disease. Psychophysiology, 26, 437-441.

Freedman, R.R., Moten, M., Miglay, P., and Mayes, M.D. (1983).  Self control of digital temperature: physiological factors and transfer effects.  Psychophysiology, 20, 682-689.

Gevirtz, R.N., Glaros, A.G, Hopper, D., and Schwartz, M.S., (1995).  Temporomandibular disorders. In: Schwartz, M.S., ed. Biofeedback: A Practicioner’s Guide.  2nd ed.  New York, NY: Guilford. 1995.

Glazer, H.I, Rodke, G., Swencionis, C., Hertz, R., and Young, A.W. (1995).  Treatment of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome with electromyographic biofeedback of pelvic floor musculature.  Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 40(4), 283-290.

Integration of Behavioral and Relaxation Approaches into the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia.  NIH Technology Statement Online 1995 Oct 16-18, retrieved from http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/ta/017/017_statement.htm on 5/22/04.

Kimmons, B.J. (2003).  Female urinary incontinence: diagnosis and non-invasive treatment strategies.  Physician Assistant, 27(4), 26-36.

Middaugh, S.J. and Pawlick, K. (2002).  Biofeedback and behavioral treatment of persistent pain in the older adult: a review and a study.  Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 27(3), 185-202.

Penzien, D.B., Rains, J. C., and Andrasik, F. (2002).  Behavioral management and recurrent headache: three decades of experience and empiricism. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 27(2), 163-181.

Position paper, Health and Public Policy Committee, American College of Physicians (1985).  Biofeedback for hypertension.  Annals of Internal Medicine, 102, 709-715.

Schwartz, M.S. (1995).  Irritable bowel syndrome.  In: Schwartz, M.S., ed. Biofeedback: A Practicioner’s Guide.  2nd ed.  New York, NY: Guilford. 1995.

Surwit, R., Pilon, R., and Fenton, C. (1978).  Behavioral treatment of Raynaud’s disease.  Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1, 323-335.

Tyre, T.E., D’Auria, P., Yanchar, R., and Tyre, C.  (1987).  The use of biofeedback in adjunctive care of the cancer patient.  Clinical Biofeedback and Health, 10(2), 135-141.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1992).  Urinary Incontinence in Adults: Clinical Practice Guideline.  Rockville, MD.