This study compared live and taped progressive relaxation (LR, TR), selfrelaxation (SR), and electromyogram biofeedback (BF) on measures of autonomic and somatic arousal and subjective tension. Male and female respondents (N = 40) to an ad for therapy were evaluated in five training sessions and a posttraining assessment of self-control. During training, LR was superior to TR on reductions in physiological arousal; SR and BF were equivalent except for the superiority of SR on reductions in autonomic arousal. After training, LR was superior to the other procedures on self-control of autonomic arousal. It was concluded that LR is the treatment of choice for a variety of clinical objectives.Although progressive relaxation training appears to be widely used in the clinical setting, research is equivocal regarding the physiological effects of the various forms of the procedure (Mathews, 1971). Using unselected, nonvolunteer female psychology students as subjects, Paul and Trimble (1970) found abbreviated live training superior to taped training on all physiological systems measured. Russell, Sipich, and Knipc (1976) also found live training superior to taped training for undergraduate females. Considering the economy and efficiency potentially afforded by taped training, it is important to determine the generalizability of these results to the clinical setting. Thus, one purpose of the present investigation was to compare the during training effects of extended live progressive relaxation to taped relaxation in a clinical population.
Compared Behavior Therapy (BT), self‐relaxation (SR), transcendental meditation (TM), and a waiting‐list control group (WL) on measures of cardiovascular and subjective stress response. Male and female respondents (N = 60) to an ad for therapy were evaluated in assessment sessions before and after treatment. The results indicate that BT and SR were more effective than either TM or WL in reducing cardiovascular stress response. These data were interpreted as resulting from therapeutic suggestion and positively reinforced client progress.
SYNOPSIS
The effects of cephalic vasomotor response (CVMR) feedback and electromyographic (EMG) feedback on control of CVMR, frontalis EMG and temporal artery vasospasms in muscle contraction and migraine headaches were investigated in a 67 year old woman. Systematic reductions in EMG activity were not achieved during EMG feedback. The frequency of temporal artery vasospams declined. No changes in amplitude of blood volume pulse (BVP) were observed during EMG feedback. A decrease in headache activity was associated with EMG feedback which may have been due to the reduction in temporal artery vasospasms. A treatment withdrawal condition was introduced after six EMG feedback sessions during which an increase in headache activity occurred. When CVMR feedback was introduced, the patient achieved significant BVP reductions. This control was related to the largest reduction in headache frequency and duration. Ratings representing subjective perception of the degree of disability because of headache also decreased during EMG feedback, CVMR feedback, and follow‐up. At follow‐up, there was a moderate increase in headache activity which was partially attributed to limited home practice.
This case demonstrates the successful use of biofeedback therapy in the treatment of combined vascular and muscle contraction headaches in an elderly patient and suggests that age not be a criterion for eliminating patients from this treatment. In addition, this case further supports the use of cephalic vasomotor feedback as an alternative to temperature training in the treatment of migraine.
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