Preliminary results from a controlled evaluation of thermal biofeedback as a treatment for essential hypertension.

Full Abstract

In a controlled trial, thermal biofeedback (n = 20) and abbreviated progressive relaxation (n = 22) were compared in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertensive patients whose blood pressures (BP) were initially controlled on two medications. For the clinical end point of maintaining control of BP on a single drug after treatment, biofeedback was superior to relaxation training (at 3 months, 47% success for biofeedback versus 23% for relaxation). This same result tended to be true for patient-measured home BPs. BPs from laboratory psychophysiological testing showed no consistent advantage for one treatment over the other.

Author information

Author/s: Blanchard, E B (EB); McCoy, G C (GC); Andrasik, F (F); Acerra, M (M); Pallmeyer, T P (TP); Gerardi, R (R); Halpern, M (M); Musso, A (A);

Grants: HL-27622 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Biofeedback and self-regulation (Biofeedback Self Regul), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1984-Dec; vol 9 (issue 4) : pp 471-95

Dates: Created 1985/10/10; Completed 1985/10/10; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 6399463, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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