Biofeedback (man and cop)

• aims of biofeedback (BF) training

  • BF trains people to control involuntary physiological processes (eg heart rate, muscle tension)
  • This can be done by turning physiological signals into something the client can see or hear
  • Budzynski = identified 3 phases of BF
• phase 1 = awareness of own physiological response

  • Client is connected to a machine which converts physiological activity into visual and/or auditory signal
  • Muscular tension measured using EMG = muscle activity converted into audible tone
  • Brain activity measured using EEG = shown on screen
  • Sweating activity indicated by SCRs = shown on screen
  • Feedback from machines is a meaningful representation of physiological process being monitored
• phase 2 = learn to control physiological response

  • Client applies learned stress management techniques
  • Client monitors the effect of changes = eg sees that reduced breathing rate changes a visual display in the desired direction (eg altering the line of the graph)
  • Biofeedback with children = uses game-based interface = eg client adjusts physiological response to complete on-screen maze
  • Altering signal is rewarding and reinforces client‘s behaviour, making further success more likely (ie operant conditioning)
• phase 3 = transfer to everyday life

  • Client practices stress management techniques in stressful situations rather than in the therapy room
  • No machine is necessary
• Davis BF and cancer study (procedure)

  • BF training with 25 women treated for breast cancer
  • 13 sessions (Lasting 45 minutes) over 8 weeks
  • Clients learned deep-breathing and relaxation techniques
• Davis BF and cancer study (findings/conclusions)

  • At 8 month follow up = urinary cortisol and reported anxiety were significantly lower then at the start
  • Cortisol levels increased in control pps who had no form of therapy
  • This was evidence of significant stabilisation of the HPA system by BF
• strength = research support for BF

  • Lemaire et al = trained medical doctors to use BF 3 times a day for 28 days, they also completed a stress questionnaire
  • Mean stress scores fell significantly over the study = scores also fell for a control group but by a much smaller amount
  • Suggests that BF can help to improve the psychological state of someone experiencing stress
• Counterpoint to research support

  • Lemaire ET al also took physiological measures (eg blood pressure) and found that BF had no effect (no more than placebo)
  • => the effectiveness of BF depends on the outcome measure, what it is you aim to ‘treat’
• strength = relative convenience of BF

  • BF is easy and inexpensive because of developments in technology = eg smaller sizes of devices (about the same as a mobile phone)
  • Colourful displays make the task enjoyable and such devices can be used in everyday situations and also require no supervision
  • Means that people are likely to continue BF treatment to the point where it is successful
• limit = BF is challenging

  • BF doesn’t suit everyone = need to understand link between physiology and signals, and be motivated to alter the signals
  • Gaming element improves motivation but also need to practise skills in the real world outside the safety of the clinic
  • This means that many people drop out of BF so it is hard to assess just how successful it really is
• extra evaluation = conditioning vs relaxation

  • benefits of BF come from operant conditioning = a client’s heart rate eventually reduces ‘automatically‘ without him or her consciously thinking about it
  • BUT it may be relaxation that reduces heart rate = learning this skill gives a client tools to reduce stress response and greater sense of control
  • => it is likely that relaxation is enough to manage stress and so the training and technology associated with BF are not necessary