Abstract
The essential blepharospasm is of unknown origin, and has been treated by many kinds of therapy. But a definitely efficient therapy has not been established yet. In this study, we discussed the indication of the electromyographic biofeedback therapy(EMG-BF) for this disease. The subjects were 6 patients seen in the Department of Neuro-Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yamagata University. Two were females and four were males. The age of onset was between 37 and 50 years old. The duration of the disease before visiting us was between 3 months and 4 years. The results of the psychological tests were as follows : In CMI, one was in I area, four were in II area and one was in III area. In YG, two patients each showed a tendency of A type. C type and D type. In MMPI, 3 patients showed the profile of "conversion V". In Rorschach test, the patients whose therapy was not effective showed overcontrol of their emotions. The results of their therapy were as follows : In one patient, her symptom was relieved by medication and autogenic training. In two patients, their symptoms were relieved by EMG-BF. In one patient, his symptom was relieved by EMG-BF with diazepam injection. In one patient, her symtom was partially relieved by EMG-BF. In one patient, his symptom has not been influenced by medication, autogenic training and EMG-BF. With regard to the difference of efficiency of their therapy, we suppose that it is related to their psychological characteristics. That is, the patient who overcontrols his emotions in his daily life is hard to be treated efficiently only by EMG-BF.
