A long-term, single-group follow-up study of biofeedback therapy with chronic medical and psychiatric patients

In a long-term follow-up study, 524 (93%) of 563 consecutive medical and psychiatric patients, who received an average of 8 sessions of biofeedback and relaxation training, provided follow-up evaluations of treatment outcome. Seventy-five percent reported maximum, significant, or moderate improvement. There was a significant positive association between the percent of patients improved and the number of treatment sessions up to 10 sessions, but not thereafter. Symptom frequency decreased by 54% and symptom severity by 30%. About 54% of the medicated patients reported a decrease in medication. No differential therapist effects were found. About twice as many patients rated relaxation training as most helpful compared with the audio/visual signals from biofeedback instruments.