Present Aspects of Biofeedback in Japan

Abstract

In order to survey the present utilization of biofeedback in Japan, we gave a questionnaire to all members of Japanese Biofeedback Society, and could collect 97 available replies. The questionnaire composed of the following domains: profession of membership, instruments, basic research study, clinical application, and future prospect of biofeedback study. The professions of members were psychologists(42%), physicians (38%), engineers(11%), and physical educationers (4%). In spite of much satisfaction with functional efficiency of biofeedback instruments, there were still requirements for low price and debelopment of multifeedback systems. About 80% of researchers did basic studies, and about 50% of them applied biofeedback methods to their patients. EMG feedback was used frequently, and was evaluated as an effective method at hospitals. On the other hand, some people who answered the questionnaire did not agree to clinical use of brain wave feedback. Most researchers answered that biofeedback methods were not popular in Japan. They indicated that the biofeedback methods were not succeeding in the wide use because of lack of the standard procedure and the adequate systems of insurance and education. However many researchers expected that biofeedback methods would spread over the various fields.