Galvanic Skin Response—Extinction Biofeedback Training for Psychogenic Abdominal Pain: A Validation Protocol

Abdominal and pelvic pain of psychogenic origin is a widespread, disabling, difficult to identify, and often inadequately treated medical condition. This condition is often associated with poor quality of life due to high pain interference with daily activities. Cognitive behavioral psychological therapy and neuromodulation with biofeedback are validated therapies for the treatment of this condition. Aim of the present research work is the validation of a therapeutic protocol that involves the use of both techniques in combination. 20 patients diagnosed with psychogenic abdominal pain, of both sexes, aged between 18 and 60 years who had not benefited from pharmacological therapies were enrolled. 10 patients were randomly assigned to the control group (psychological treatment only), another 10 patients were assigned to the study group (neuromodulation with biofeedback-Galvanic skin response-extinction in combination with psychological therapy). For both groups, the pain score, interference of pain with daily living activities, pain relief, and the share of anxiety associated with the pain condition were evaluated (pre- and post-treatment). The patients who underwent the combined treatment achieved statistically significant better scores than patients in the control group, respectively −4.9 ± 0.9 vs −1.0 ± 0.4 for Pain;−5.1 ± 1.1 vs −0.9 ± 0.3 for Interference with life;−7.2 ± 3.7 vs −2.2 ± 2.1 for HAMA;4.6 ± 1.2 vs 1.1 ± 0.6 for Relief.

Visual function and biofeedback training of patients with central vision loss:a review

Older individuals with macular diseases,such as age-related macular degeneration,experience central vision loss(CVL)due to degeneration of their photoreceptors and retinal cells.Patients with CVL may experience various vision impairments,including of visual acuity,fixation stability,contrast sensitivity,and stereoacuity.After CVL,most patients develop a preferred retinal locus outside the affected macular region,which serves as a new visual reference.In this review,we provide an overview of the visual function and impairment in individuals with CVL.In addition,the important role of biofeedback training on the visual function and activity of individuals with CVL is also reviewed.Accordingly,the location and development of the preferred retinal loci are discussed.Finally,this review discusses how to conduct biofeedback training to treat individuals with CVL.

Vision rehabilitation using microperimetric biofeedback training in age-related macular degeneration

·AIM: To determine the impact of microperimetric biofeedback training(MBFT) on the quality of vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration(AMD).·METHODS: This study was a prospective, interventional, comparative study with subjects of patients diagnosed with AMD in the National Eye Center Cicendo Eye Hospital, Indonesia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, intervention and non-intervention with 18 patients in each group. The intervention group would receive six MBFT training sessions of 10-minute time duration each.·RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) was found after the intervention, from 1.24±0.416 to 0.83±0.242(log MAR;P<0.001). A statistically significant improvement for near vision acuity(NVA) was also observed, from 1.02±0.307 log MAR to 0.69±0.278 log MAR(P<0.001). In addition, reading rate increased, from 40.83±30.411 to 65.06±31.598 words/min(P<0.001). Similarly, a comparison of changes in BCVA, NVA, and reading rate between intervention and non-intervention groups showed a significant difference(P<0.001).·CONCLUSION: MBFT significantly and positively impacts visual acuity, NVA, and reading rate in patients with AMD.

A Controlled Study of the Effectiveness of EEG Biofeedback Training on Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

In order to study the treatment of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) was clinically applied to evaluate the effectiveness of electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback training. Of all the 60 children with ADHD aged more than 6 years, the effective rate of EEG biofeedback training was 91.6 % after 40 sessions of EEG biofeedback training. Before and after treatment by EEG biofeedback training, the overall indexes of IVA were significantly improved among predominately inattentive, hyperactive, and combined subtype of children with ADHD (P<0.001). It was suggested that EEG biofeedback training was an effective and vital treatment on children with ADHD.