Preliminary results from a controlled evaluation of thermal biofeedback as a treatment for essential hypertension

Authors

• Edward B. Blanchard, State University of New York Albany
• Guy C. McCoy, Albany Medical College
• Frank Andrasik, State University of New York Albany
• Maryrose Acerra, State University of New York Albany
• Thomas P. Pallmeyer, State University of New York Albany
• Robert Gerardi, State University of New York Albany
• Mindy Halpern, State University of New York Albany
• Alison Musso, State University of New York Albany

Abstract

In a controlled trial, thermal biofeedback (n=20) and abbreviated progressive relaxation (n=22) were compared in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertensive patients whose blood pressures (BP) were initially controlled on two medications. For the clinical end point of maintaining control of BP on a single drug after treatment, biofeedback was superior to relaxation training (at 3 months, 47% success for biofeedback versus 23% for relaxation). This same result tended to be true for patient-measured home BPs. BPs from laboratory psychophysiological testing showed no consistent advantage for one treatment over the other. © 1984 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Publication Title

Biofeedback and Self Regulation

Recommended Citation

Blanchard, E., McCoy, G., Andrasik, F., Acerra, M., Pallmeyer, T., Gerardi, R., Halpern, M., & Musso, A. (1984). Preliminary results from a controlled evaluation of thermal biofeedback as a treatment for essential hypertension. Biofeedback and Self Regulation, 9 (4), 471-495. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01000564