EVALUATION OF BIOFEEDBACK IN THE TREATMENT OF BORDERLINE ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Direct biofeedback of blood pressure was compared with frontal EMG biofeedback and with self-instructed relaxation for the treatment of essential hypertension in a controlled group outcome study. Patients were followed up for four months after the end of treatment. Generalization of treatment effect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied behavior analysis 1979-01, Vol.12 (1), p.99-109
Main Authors: Blanchard, Edward B., Miller, Stephen T., Abel, Gene G., Haynes, Mary R., Wicker, Rebecca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
biofeedback
Biofeedback, Psychology
Blood Pressure
Electromyography
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Generalization (Psychology)
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypertension - therapy
hypertension treatment
Male
Middle Aged
relaxation
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Summary:Direct biofeedback of blood pressure was compared with frontal EMG biofeedback and with self-instructed relaxation for the treatment of essential hypertension in a controlled group outcome study. Patients were followed up for four months after the end of treatment. Generalization of treatment effects was assessed through pre- and posttreatment measurements of blood pressure under clinical conditions in a physician's office. There were no significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the patients receiving blood pressure biofeedback decreased 8.1 mm mercury (p = 0.07) and the SBP of the patients in the relaxation condition decreased 9.5 mm mercury (p = 0.05). In the generalization measures, there were significant reductions in SBP for the relaxation group. The results are discussed in terms of the general lack of replicability within the area of biofeedback treatment of hypertension.
ISSN:0021-8855
1938-3703
DOI:10.1901/jaba.1979.12-99