Biofeedback in the treatment of anxiety disorders

Abstract

Studies which have used various forms of biofeedback in the treatment of anxiety disorders are summarized and examined in regard to whether biofeedback-mediated physiological changes are responsible for reductions in subjective reports of anxiety. The evidence suggests that frontal EMG biofeedback training to reduce muscle tension is the most promising biofeedback training technique to date. Studies of heart rate and EEG alpha biofeedback offer only minimal support for the use of these methods to facilitate anxiety reduction. The limited literature on the application of skin resistance level, finger pulse volume, and temperature biofeedback in the treatment of anxiety disorders suggests that these may be viable treatment techniques. The role of factors other than physiological change that may render biofeedback a successful treatment are discussed.