Biofeedback an evidence based approach in clinical practice

Abstract

Clinical biofeedback procedures are highly effective ameliorating a variety of symptoms that range from urinary incontinence to hypertension as well as assess a person's somatic awareness by making the invisible visible. The paper reviews the biofeedback process and some psychosomatic applications. Psychosomatic patients often demand more skills than just attaching them to the equipment. Successful treatment includes a) assessing physiology as a diagnostic strategy, b) explaining the illness processes and healing strategies that are congruent with patients' perspective, c) reframing the patients' illness beliefs, and d) psychophysiological training with homework practices to generalize the skills. This process is illustrated through the description of a single session with a patient who experienced severe gastrointestinal distress and insomnia.