Biofeedback Analysis

Biofeedback analysis, also called psychophysiological feedback or simply biofeedback, is form of therapy that trains patients to improve their health conditions by controlling various bodily functions that normally occur automatically or involuntarily. Some of the bodily processes that patients are trained to self-regulate include blood pressure, brain activity, muscle tension, heart rate and skin temperature.

Origins

Experimental psychologist Neal Miller was reportedly the first within the conventional medical community to assert that automatic bodily functions could be voluntarily controlled by individuals. His work in conducting experiments to support his 1961 proposal laid the foundation for biofeedback analysis. Throughout the 1970s, other health professionals, such as UCLA researcher Dr. Barry Sterman, expanded Millers work, which paved the way for current biofeedback techniques and applications.

Sessions

During biofeedback sessions, sensors or electrodes are attached to the patient's skin. These sensors measure various interactions between biology processes (e.g., heart rate) and psychological activities (e.g., specific thoughts and mental images). Over the course of multiple sessions, patients learn through trial and error which mental activities help facilitate the desired physical changes. Patients may require up to 30 sessions to learn what techniques are best suited to manage their condition on a long-term basis.

Sensors

Depending on the condition being addressed, one or more types of biofeedback sensors are used for analysis. These include electroencephalography or neurofeedback sensors, which monitor brain wave activity; galvanic skin response sensors, which measure perspiration activity; electromyography sensors, which evaluate muscle tension; thermal sensors, which monitor changes in blood flow in relation to body temperature; heart rate sensors; and respiratory sensors, which measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Benefits

To date, there has been no concrete explanation as to why or how biofeedback works. However, biofeedback has shown to be highly effective in treating a wide range of health conditions. This is especially the case in conditions with underlying autonomic nervous system dysfunction. For example NASA has used biofeedback analysis to treat astronauts that experience severe space sickness. Also, University of Tennessee scientists use biofeedback techniques to treat severe cases of vomiting and nausea. Additionally, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research has recommended biofeedback analysis as a treatment option for incontinence. Numerous patients have shown improvement via biofeedback for other conditions, including constipation, asthma, depression, seizure disorders, chronic pain, sleep disorders, migraine headaches, autism, high blood pressure, sexual disorders, temporomandibular joint disorder, Raynaud's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and chronic pain.

Controversy

While scores of patients and heath care professionals tout biofeedback's benefits, many within the medical community consider it a controversial treatment option at best. Critics of biofeedback analysis attribute its success to a placebo effect.