Biofeedback^ Flashcards
Biofeedback
gives P control over involuntary physiological responses linked with stress (heart rate)
makes us more aware of the responses and aims for us to have more control cause of it
How?
clients connected to machines
converts their physiological activity into visual and auditory signal
allows C to become aware of it
Ways To Do It
heart rate: being shown
muscular tension: electromyogram produces tones with diff pitches
EEGs: show brain activity
skin conductance: show sweating actiivity
The Training Procedure
Budzynski
- identified 3 phases to BF training
Awareness
- input from T to help C become aware of physio. response
Learn Control
- C applies stress management tech
- views the psycho. diff it makes
- pos reinforcement from T = more likely for changes to last
Transfer
- control over responses is transferred to life without BF machines
Davis
used EMG BF with women getting treatment for breast cancer
13 45 min sessions over 8 weeks
25 patients learned deep breathing and relaxation tech
after 8 m, levels of urinary cortisol and self- reported anxiety were less than in the start
proof due to the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal system (HPA) by BF
Research Support
Lemaire et al
doctros trained to used BF devices
used the 3x over 28 days
questionnaire on their stress levels
used the BF machines = less stressed as study went on
stress levels of CG also lowered but less than PG
VS Research Support
measured heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol
no significant changes
effects of BF are just a placebo
Convenient Therapy
easy to use and cheap
esp with tech advances
- heart rate monitors in phones
increase motivation and enjoyment for C to engage
- don’t need supervision
Challenging Therapy
BF = demanding and not for all
P need to understand rel between physio. functioning and visual/auditory received signals
need to be motivated to apply skills to alter signals
need to practise in RL
many drop out = hard to asses how successful it it
Just Relax
BF training involves relaxation and operant cond (may be what brings the benefit of BF)
- heart rate reduces automatically without having to think about it
but it may be the relaxation that decreases heart rate
learning skills of relaxation gives control to reduce stress response
