Biofeedback-assisted relaxation training helps women with breast cancer after mastectomy: Effects of EMG-HRV biofeedback on psychological symptoms

Abstract

Aim The aim of present research was to investigate the effects of EMG-HRV biofeedback-assisted relaxation training on psychological and physiological symptoms of breast cancer women after mastectomy. Methods About 14 breast cancer women in one of the Tehran hospital's in-patient service were chosen and divided to experimental and control groups. Informed consent was provided from subjects and research design approved in the Ethics' Committee of Semnan University. Measures of DASS scale were gathered from all subjects before any intervention and experimental group were received 8 sessions of biofeedback-assisted relaxation training over 4 weeks interval, whereas no intervention made on control group. All patients were asked again to complete the DASS scale afterwards. Indices of smooth artifact free sEMG and HRV biofeedback were recorded using a Biofeedback 2000 x-pert system Version 4. Results Data were extracted and analyzed by GLM statistical analysis. Conclusions Results were shown significantly differences for depression, anxiety and stress measures after 8 sessions biofeedback treatment. Significantly differences were also observed in the sEMG and HRV measures of two groups during baseline (0) middle phase (4) and termination phase (8) of the training sessions with better results for experimental subjects as well. It was concluded that biofeedback-assisted relaxation training could effectively decrease negative psychological symptoms of the breast cancer patients after mastectomy due to EMG-HRV positive changes.