The Effect of Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation on the Clinical Symptoms and Stress Responses in Patients with Chronic Headache.
- Author:
Myoung Sun JANG
1
;
Yang Sook HAH
;
Chin Sang CHUNG
;
Bum Hee YU
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bhyu@smc.samsung.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chronic headache;
Biofeedback;
Stress response;
Relaxation training
- MeSH:
Anxiety;
Biofeedback, Psychology;
Depression;
Forearm;
Galvanic Skin Response;
Headache;
Headache Disorders*;
Humans;
Migraine Disorders;
Relaxation*;
Skin Temperature;
Stress, Physiological;
Tension-Type Headache
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2004;43(6):697-705
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effect of biofeedback treatment on the clinical symptoms and stress responses in chronic headache patients. METHODS : We recruited 18 chronic headache patients who were treated with 8 sessions of biofeedback treatment and 18 age and sex-matched control headache patients. All subjects consisted of patients with chronic tension headache and migraine headache. Stress responses were measured using Symptoms of stress (SOS) inventory and all subjects performed Beck depression inventory (BDI), Spielberger state anxiety inventory (STAIS), and visual analogue scale (VAS). Biofeedback physiological variables including frontal and forearm EMG, electrodermal response (EDR) and skin temperature at pre-and post-treatment were also measured in all subjects. RESULTS : Compared with control patients, patients on biofeedback treatment showed significant reduction in scores of STAIS (t=3.705, p<.001), and VAS (t=3.392, p=.001) as well as SOS subscales;peripheral manifestations (t=1.788, p=.042), habitual patterns (t=2.008, p=.027), depression (t=2.081, p=.023), anxiety (t=1.990, p=.028), and total score (t=2.045, p=.025). There was a significant increase of skin temperature (t=-1.835, p=.038) only in the biofeedback treatment group. CONCLUSION : These results suggest that biofeedback treatment may be effective in relieving chronic headache by reducing psychological and physiological stress responses.
