Electromyographic Biofeedback for Childhood Tic Syndrome

Abstract

Negative practice is well-known as the therapy for tic syndrome. It is, however, difficult to perform in childhood tic syndrome. EMG biofeedback training for this syndrome has already tried by some researchers elsewhere. We tried EMG biofeedback for eight patients of childhood tic syndrome. The numbers of sessions are from three times to ten and in all of them except one their symptoms became much better. Polygraphic record at each session showed the linear change of EMG and binary informations of up and down to the criteria which was settled in advance. For the first time all of the patients could not manage to reduce EMG activities even though getting biofeedback informations of sound and light. Then at the second session and so on they became able to control EMG activities through biofeedback informations and contingently diminished it. We also tried therapeutically to treat the parents' attitude toword their children. That is, they were coercive, controlling, crushing etc. as ever admitted clinically. We tentatively conclude that EMG biofeedback for childhood tic syndrome is the one of the useful therapeutic methods with some behaviorally oriented approaches.