Reduction in Drug Prescription using Biofeedback Relaxation in Neurotic and Psychosomatic Disorders

There is a paucity of Indian studies on effectiveness of biofeedback in reducing drug prescription in neurotic and stress related disorders.

Study sample of generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), mixed anxiety depression, obssessive compulsive disorder (OCD), dissociative disorder and headache were assigned to three groups of 28, 23 and 27 patients respectively. Group 1 were subjected to drug therapy, Group 2 to biofeedback and Group 3 to drugs and biofeedback for 12 weeks. All were followed up at six months and one year.

At the end of one year, in Group 1, 60.71 % had mild and 17.86 % had moderate anxiety levels, while 21.43% required no further follow up. In Group 2, 39.13 % showed mild and 43.48 % had moderate anxiety levels, while 17.39 % required no follow up. In Group 3, 22.22% had mild and 11.13% had moderate levels of anxiety, while 66.66% required no further treatment.

Biofeedback relaxation with pharmacotherapy is useful in select group of neurotic and psychosomatic cases.