[Biofeedback treatments: a blunder? (author's transl)]. 1981

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The persistent intricacy of published positive results of fundamental researches on biofeedback and data obtained with its therapeutical applications leaves the clinician quite puzzled before such a controversial topic. The author states how biofeedback methodology definitely enriched our understanding of internal regulatory mechanisms and that of interrelations between internal and external environments. On the other hand, it is shown that present-day therapeutical applications (except those relevant to organic pathology) still do not undeniably demonstrate the efficacy of biofeedback. The author views this as the result of some obvious conceptual errors, namely the over simplification of the physiopathological conceptions shared by the practitioners of biofeedback and the nature of the symptomatic approach to psychosomatic functional disorders, as elaborated apart from a more global perspective embodying the relationships between the organism and his environment. The author finally questions the validity of a reasoning process that parallels disorders from an organic origin and those with a functional aetiology for the purpose of therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011602 Psychophysiologic Disorders A group of disorders characterized by physical symptoms that are affected by emotional factors and involve a single organ system, usually under AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM control. (American Psychiatric Glossary, 1988) Psychosomatic Disorders,Psychophysiological Disorders,Psychophysiologic Disorder,Psychophysiological Disorder,Psychosomatic Disorder
D006706 Homeostasis The processes whereby the internal environment of an organism tends to remain balanced and stable. Autoregulation
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001523 Mental Disorders Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function. Mental Illness,Psychiatric Diseases,Psychiatric Disorders,Psychiatric Illness,Behavior Disorders,Diagnosis, Psychiatric,Mental Disorders, Severe,Psychiatric Diagnosis,Illness, Mental,Mental Disorder,Mental Disorder, Severe,Mental Illnesses,Psychiatric Disease,Psychiatric Disorder,Psychiatric Illnesses,Severe Mental Disorder,Severe Mental Disorders
D001676 Biofeedback, Psychology The therapy technique of providing the status of one's own AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM function (e.g., skin temperature, heartbeats, brain waves) as visual or auditory feedback in order to self-control related conditions (e.g., hypertension, migraine headaches). Biofeedback (Psychology),Bogus Physiological Feedback,False Physiological Feedback,Feedback, Psychophysiologic,Biofeedback,Feedback, Psychophysiological,Myofeedback,Psychophysiologic Feedback,Biofeedbacks,Biofeedbacks (Psychology),Biofeedbacks, Psychology,Bogus Physiological Feedbacks,False Physiological Feedbacks,Feedback, Bogus Physiological,Feedback, False Physiological,Feedbacks, Bogus Physiological,Feedbacks, False Physiological,Myofeedbacks,Physiological Feedback, Bogus,Physiological Feedback, False,Physiological Feedbacks, Bogus,Physiological Feedbacks, False,Psychology Biofeedback,Psychology Biofeedbacks

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