Quieting response training: long-term evaluation of a clinical biofeedback practice

Area of Science:

• Psychophysiology
• Behavioral Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Accumulating clinical evidence supports the long-term efficacy of biofeedback-based relaxation training.
• The Quieting Response (QR) is a specific self-regulation training program integrating multiple biofeedback modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the patient population, self-regulation procedures, outcome criteria, and results for patients undergoing QR training.
• To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of QR training across various presenting symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Data from 340 patients completing at least 3-month follow-up were analyzed.
• QR training involved 8 weekly 1-hour sessions integrating EMG and thermal biofeedback with deep breathing, progressive relaxation, and autogenic exercises.
• Outcomes were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years based on symptom frequency, severity, duration, medication use, and secondary benefits.

Main Results:

• QR training demonstrated the highest success rates for primary Raynaud's disease (78%), classic migraines (69%), and common migraines (62%).
• Moderate success was observed for mixed headaches (60%), Raynaud's with other symptoms (60%), and irritable bowel syndrome (54%).
• Lower success rates were noted for headaches with other symptoms (43%), muscle contraction headaches (39%), secondary Raynaud's (40%), and essential hypertension (33%).

Conclusions:

• Quieting Response training offers a viable long-term therapeutic option for specific conditions, notably primary Raynaud's disease and certain types of headaches.
• The differential effectiveness across symptom groups suggests a need for further research into the mechanisms underlying QR training's impact.
• Biofeedback-assisted relaxation techniques like QR show promise in managing chronic conditions, with outcomes varying by specific diagnosis.