CLINICAL EFFECTS OF BLOOD-PRESSURE BIOFEEDBACK TREATMENT ON HYPERTENSION BY AUTO-SHAPING

Although biofeedback has been reported to be efficacious in the treatm ent of hypertension, the degree of response has varied. :This study in vestigated the mechanisms of blood pressure reduction by biofeedback. Method: Thirty outpatients with essential hypertension (10 men and 20 women) aged 38 to 65 years were studied. Subjects were randomly assign ed to group A or B. Subjects in group A underwent biofeedback treatmen t once a week for a total of four sessions. Those in group B self-moni tored their blood pressure during the sessions as the control period a nd later underwent the same biofeedback treatment. Results: Blood pres sure measured by doctor was reduced by 17 +/- 18/8 +/- 7 (p < .01) and elevation of pressure induced by mental stress testing was suppressed by 8 +/- 9 (p < .05)/4 +/- 8 during the treatment period in group A ( mm Hg). In group B, both blood pressure measured by doctor and elevati on of pressure by mental stress testing remained unchanged during the control period and they were later suppressed by 20 +/- 15/9 +/- 7 (p < .01) and 11 +/- 10 (p < .05)/5 +/- 9 by the biofeedback treatment. S elf-monitored pressure in both groups tended to decrease by the biofee dback treatment. Systolic and diastolic pressures as well as pulse rat e decreased, skin temperature increased, and alpha-wave amplitude on e lectroencephalography increased during the therapy (p < .05). Conclusi on: This treatment,Nas effective in suppressing the presser response t o stress. Patients whose blood pressure increases with stress may be s uited for biofeedback intervention.