For biofeedback, a type of mind-body medicine Mind-Body Medicine Five categories of complementary or alternative medicine are generally recognized: Whole medical systems Mind-body medicine Biologically based practices not usually used in conventional medicine... read more , electronic devices are used to provide information to patients about biologic functions (eg, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle activity, skin temperature, skin resistance, brain surface electrical activity) and to teach patients to control these functions through mental exercises.
(See also Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Integrative medicine and health (IMH) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include healing approaches and therapies that historically have not been included in conventional, mainstream... read more .)
Uses for Biofeedback
With the help of a therapist or with training, patients can then use information from biofeedback to modify the function or to relax, thereby lessening the effects of conditions such as pain, stress, anxiety (1 References For biofeedback, a type of mind-body medicine, electronic devices are used to provide information to patients about biologic functions (eg, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle activity, skin... read more ), insomnia, and headaches. There are many different types of biofeedback, including neurofeedback, which specifically monitors brain activity with electroencephalography and provides a response.
Biofeedback is also used in patients with fecal or urinary incontinence, chronic abdominal pain, tinnitus, Raynaud syndrome, or attention or memory disorders (eg, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, traumatic brain injury). Neurofeedback appears to be effective in cognitive performance and the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The 3 types of ADHD are predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive... read more (ADHD) (2 References For biofeedback, a type of mind-body medicine, electronic devices are used to provide information to patients about biologic functions (eg, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle activity, skin... read more ).
References
1. Tolin DF, Davies CD, Moskow DM, et al: Biofeedback and neurofeedback for anxiety disorders: a quantitative and qualitative systematic review. Adv Exp Med Biol 1191:265-289, 2020. doi: 10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_16
2. Arns M, Clark CR, Trullinger M, et al: Neurofeedback and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) in children: rating the evidence and proposed guidelines. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 45(2):39-48, 2020. doi: 10.1007/s10484-020-09455-2
