Placebo-Controlled Biofeedback Blood Pressure Effect in Hypertensive Humans

Hunyor, Stephen N.; Henderson, Robyn J.; Lal, Sara; Carter, Norman L.; Köbler, H.; Jones, Michael; Bartrop, Roger; Craig, Ashley; Mihailidou, Anastasia S.

doi:10.1161/01.hyp.29.6.1225

Cited by 28 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Recently, it was reported that the BP-lowering capability of BPBF was independent of the real nature of the feedback signal because placebo biofeedback could also lower BP [35]. Our design does not permit us to exclude the role of non-specific placebo effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood Pressure Biofeedback Treatment, Organ Damage and Sympathetic Activity in Mild Hypertension

Nakao

Nomura

Shimosawa

et al. 1999

Psychother Psychosom

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Although biofeedback treatment is reported to be useful for patients with mild hypertension as an adjunct to medication, it is not certain whether the presence of organ damage affects its efficacy. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinical effects of biofeedback on mild hypertension in the absence and presence of organ damage. Methods: Eleven mildly hypertensive outpatients without damage to the heart, brain, retina or kidney (4 men and 7 women), aged 40–65 years, and 11 mildly hypertensive outpatients with target organ damage and matching variables for age, sex and medication were included in this study. They underwent biofeedback treatment once a week for a total of four sessions. Results: As a result of these sessions, mean blood pressures (MBP) in the organ-damage-negative (–) group and in the organ-damage-positive (+) group were significantly reduced by 12 ± 11 and 12 ± 8, respectively. The decrease was still significant 3 months after the treatment in the organ-damage (–) group, whereas no significant change was found 1 or 3 months after the treatment in the organ-damge (+) group. Throughout these sessions, the ratio of low frequency to high frequency of heart rate variance as well as systolic and MBP gradually decreased in each group (p < 0.01); this ratio of heart rate variance was smaller, and the α-wave amplitude on the electroencephalogram was larger in the organ-damage (–) group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggested that biofeedback intervention may be effective in mild hypertension, especially when the patient is organ damage (–). Sympathetic activity seems to play an important role in the differentiated response.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood Pressure Biofeedback Treatment, Organ Damage and Sympathetic Activity in Mild Hypertension

Nakao

Nomura

Shimosawa

et al. 1999

Psychother Psychosom

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Blanchard et al (1996) reported that an 8-week thermal biofeedback-training program had no effect on either clinic or ABP measurements. Hunyor et al (1997) found that almost 50% of the hypertensive patients in their study were able to lower their BP in the laboratory using thermal biofeedback. However, the placebo group also lowered their BP to a comparable degree, and the biofeedback sessions had no effect on ABP levels.…”

Section: Biofeedbackmentioning

confidence: 96%

Biobehavioral approaches to the treatment of essential hypertension.

Blumenthal¹,

Gullette²,

Georgiades³

et al. 2002

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite recent advances in the medical management of hypertension, chronically elevated blood pressure remains a major health problem in the United States, affecting almost 50 million Americans. It is widely recognized that lifestyle factors contribute to the development and maintenance of elevated blood pressure. This article critically reviews current approaches to the nonpharmacological treatment of high blood pressure and highlights outcome studies of exercise, weight loss and dietary modification, and stress management and relaxation therapies. Methodological issues in the assessment and treatment of hypertension are discussed, along with possible mechanisms by which lifestyle modification may reduce elevated blood pressure.

show abstract

“…These results showed the credible placebo biofeedback intervention to have significant short-time effects on systolic blood pressure, with specific changes in the suggested direction. However, the effects seemed to be restricted to the biofeedback sessions, as arm-cuff blood pressure measurements before and after the sessions as well as 24 h measurements did not change [40].…”

Section: Placebo Effects On Autonomic Functions (A) Cardiovascular Symentioning

confidence: 99%

The placebo effect and the autonomic nervous system: evidence for an intimate relationship

Meißner

2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For many subjectively experienced outcomes, such as pain and depression, rather large placebo effects have been reported. However, there is increasing evidence that placebo interventions also affect end-organ functions regulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). After discussing three psychological models for autonomic placebo effects, this article provides an anatomical framework of the autonomic system and then critically reviews the relevant placebo studies in the field, thereby focusing on gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and pulmonary functions. The findings indicate that several autonomic organ functions can indeed be altered by verbal suggestions delivered during placebo and nocebo interventions. In addition, three experimental studies provide evidence for organ-specific effects, in agreement with the current knowledge on the central control of the ANS. It is suggested that the placebo effects on autonomic organ functions are best explained by the model of 'implicit affordance', which assumes that placebo effects are dependent on 'lived experience' rather than on the conscious representation of expected outcomes. Nevertheless, more studies will be needed to further elucidate psychological and neurobiological pathways involved in autonomic placebo effects.

show abstract

Placebo-Controlled Biofeedback Blood Pressure Effect in Hypertensive Humans

Cited by 28 publications

References 31 publications

Blood Pressure Biofeedback Treatment, Organ Damage and Sympathetic Activity in Mild Hypertension

Blood Pressure Biofeedback Treatment, Organ Damage and Sympathetic Activity in Mild Hypertension

Biobehavioral approaches to the treatment of essential hypertension.

The placebo effect and the autonomic nervous system: evidence for an intimate relationship

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About