Good news--bad press: applied psychophysiology in cardiovascular disorders

Dysregulation in blood pressure control can occur as a result of psychological stress in either the hypertensive or hypotensive direction. Applied psychophysiological techniques incorporating biofeedback and relaxation have been shown to be efficacious in controlled studies of hypertensive patients. Electromyograph, thermal, skin conductance and direct blood pressure feedback have been utilized alone or in combination with relaxation, blood pressure monitoring, and medication. Prediction models are proposed to define what type of hypertensive is most likely to respond with significant blood pressure decrease. Neurocardiogenic syncope is a cardiovascular disorder which manifests itself as lightheadedness, dizziness, syncope, and often migraine-type headache. Preliminary indications suggest that biofeedback-assisted relaxation may also prove beneficial to patients with this syndrome.