Managing and coping with stress: Biofeedback Flashcards
What is biofeedback?
A form of stress management that turns physiological processes such as heart rate into signals that the client can learn to control.
What are the aims of biofeedback?
The client is attached to a machine which converts physiological activity into a visual or auditory signal. A physiological activity is monitored, the signal is amplified and fed back to the client.
E.g. muscular tension can be measured using an electromyogram. Or heart monitors which are widely available.
Who created biofeedback
Thomas Budzynski
What is the training procedure in biofeedback training?
Phase 1- (Awareness) This is an educational stage with lots of input from the trainer. A client learns to become aware of their physiological response.
Phase 2- (Learn control) The client learns to apply stress management techniques they have practiced.They get praise from the therapist and are reinforced through operant conditioning.
Phase 3-(Transfer) Control of the response has to be transferred to every day life, so the client practices in stressful situations rather than in the safety and comfort of the therapy room.
Explain Davis’s research into biofeedback.
He used EMG biofeedback (activity of muscles) with women receiving treatment for breast cancer.
There were 13, 45 minute sessions held over an 8 week period, during which the 25 patients learned deep-breathing techniques.
They found that after 8 months., their level of cortisol and self reported anxiety were significantly lower in these patients than that had been at the start of the study.
Davis concluded that this was evidence of significant stabilisation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system.
Evaluation of Biofeedback
Limitation: It may not be appropriate for all because it requires high levels of motivation.
Strength- Biofeedback is very easy to use because of developments on technology. It also makes it enjoyable and cost effective.
