The "How and Why" of Group Biofeedback for Chronic Disease Management.

Biofeedback has been shown to have some level of efficacy for the treatment of a number of chronic medical conditions; however, individualized biofeedback treatment is not always feasible. While group- based interventions are growing in practice due to numerous advantages, the dearth of research examining the efficacy of Group Biofeedback (GBF) suggests that this treatment modality may not be commonly utilized. Thus, the current paper highlights some advantages and constructively addresses potential challenges of utilizing GBF. Obstacles specific to GBF include equipment for participants, need for support staffing, and billing. However, the potential benefits are numerous, and pertain to cost-effectiveness, improved patient access, and additive benefits specific to group-based treatment. We offer a six-session GBF protocol to be used to guide future clinical work in this area. We hope that through the ideas and protocol presented in this paper, biofeedback practitioners will be more inclined to implement GBF.

Biofeedback in medicine: who, when, why and how?

Biofeedback is a mind-body technique in which individuals learn how to modify their physiology for the purpose of improving physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Much like physical therapy, biofeedback training requires active participation on the part of patients and often regular practice between training sessions. Clinical biofeedback may be used to manage disease symptoms as well as to improve overall health and wellness through stress management training. Research has shown that biofeedback interventions are efficacious in treating a variety of medical conditions, and many Americans are turning to biofeedback and other less traditional therapies for their routine healthcare.Clinical biofeedback training is growing increasingly popular in the USA, as many people are seeking out relatively new approaches to healthcare. This article provides an overview of clinical biofeedback training, outlines two models of training, details research which has established how effective biofeedback is in patients with a given disease, and describes who should be referred for biofeedback training.