Comparison of behavioral treatments for Raynaud's disease

Induced vasodilation by classical conditioning was compared to biofeedback therapy as treatment for idiopathic Raynaud's disease. Classical conditioning therapy consisted of 54 10-min immersions of both hands in water (43 degrees C) simultaneously with whole-body exposure to cold air (0 degrees C), given three times per day, 3 days per week, for 6 weeks. Biofeedback therapy consisted of eight sessions of electromyograph feedback (frontalis) while listening to relaxation tapes, followed by 10 sessions of digital thermal feedback while listening to relaxation tapes. Both groups received 10-min cold stress tests of whole-body exposure to 0 degrees C before and after treatments. Results indicated that both therapies significantly increased the digital temperature response to cold. Although no differences between classical conditioning and biofeedback were found at the end of training, a 1-year follow-up indicated that classical conditioning was more effective.