Biofeedback: Can it be used as an Assessment Tool?

Abstract

Biofeedback forms an integral part of Complementary and Alternate Medicine (CAM). It acts as a self-regulation technique through which individuals voluntarily learn to control what they believe are involuntary body processes. It records physiological signals using sensors and converts them into meaningful visual and auditory cues that provide feedback about physiological responses through a computer screen. It has been widely used as an intervention tool since the time of its development. The utility and effectiveness of biofeedback are not only restricted to illness but also to enhancing health and well-being. The biofeedback mechanism relies on two primary principles: Psychophysiological Mechanism and Operant Conditioning Mechanism. Applying the same mechanisms, biofeedback can also be used as an assessment tool. It may be used in research studies to assess the efficacy of a particular intervention at various data points and also be used in clinical practice to assess the improvement in the patient, which in turn will be a self-reinforcement for the patient. Thus, research in biofeedback as an assessment tool besides an effective intervention measure is warranted in both clinical studies and pure theoretical research.