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Skin temperature biofeedback for Raynaud's disease: a double-blind study

R S Guglielmi, A H Roberts, R Patterson

Biofeedback and Self-Regulation

|March 1, 1982

Summary

Skin temperature biofeedback shows no significant advantage over control groups for Raynaud's disease treatment. While patients reported symptom improvement, it was attributed to nonspecific factors, not the biofeedback itself.

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Area of Science:

Medical Science
Psychophysiology

Background:

Previous studies on skin temperature biofeedback for Raynaud's disease lacked rigorous control groups, leading to inconclusive results.
The effectiveness of specific biofeedback interventions is often confounded by placebo effects and patient expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the efficacy of skin temperature biofeedback in treating primary Raynaud's disease using a controlled, double-blind methodology.
To differentiate the specific effects of biofeedback from nonspecific treatment factors.

Main Methods:

Thirty-six primary Raynaud's disease patients were randomized into three groups: skin temperature increase biofeedback, EMG relaxation control, and no-treatment control.
A double-blind approach was employed, with 20 training sessions per subject, including cold stress challenges in the final sessions.
Patients maintained symptom diaries throughout the study duration.

Main Results:

All patient groups reported a noticeable reduction in vasospastic attacks.
No statistically significant differences in symptomatic relief were observed among the skin temperature biofeedback, EMG relaxation, and no-treatment control groups.
The observed general improvement in symptoms was not attributable to the specific biofeedback intervention.

Conclusions:

The study suggests that the symptomatic improvements in Raynaud's disease patients receiving skin temperature biofeedback are likely due to nonspecific treatment effects rather than the biofeedback mechanism itself.
Rigorous control conditions are essential for accurately assessing the efficacy of biofeedback therapies.
Further research may be needed to explore alternative or adjunctive therapies for Raynaud's disease.

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