Written by Helen Cooke and the CAM-Cancer Consortium.
Updated August 25, 2011

Biofeedback

Abstract and key points

  • Biofeedback is a process that is used to enable an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance.
  • There is presently a lack of good quality, single-intervention trials, so it is not possible to draw clear conclusions about the efficacy of biofeedback for people with cancer.
  • Biofeedback has an encouraging safety record.

Biofeedback is a process used to enable an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance.

Although some of the studies included in this summary indicate an improvement in pain relief and chemotherapy-related nausea and anxiety, these studies have not been reproduced and have considerable methodological limitations. Evidence is therefore insufficient to document the effectiveness of biofeedback for people with cancer. It is, due to difficulties in applying blinding, not possible to determine the efficacy of biofeedback.

Biofeedback is considered to have few adverse effects.

Citation

Helen Cooke, CAM-Cancer Consortium. Biofeedback [online document]. http://www.cam-cancer.org/CAM-Summaries/Mind-body-interventions/Biofeedback. August 25, 2011.

Document history

Summary first published in August 2011, authored by Helen Cooke.

References

  1. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback USA website. http://www.aapb.org [Accessed 17/08/11].
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  3. Burish TG and Jenkins RA. Effectiveness of biofeedback and relaxation training in reducing the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. SO: Health Psychology: Official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association. 1992; (1): 17-23.
  4. Payne R and Donaghy M. 2010. 4th Edition. Payne’s Handbook of Relaxation Techniques: a practical guide for the health care professional. London: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier.
  5. Tsai PS, Chen PL, Lai YL, Lee MB, Lin CC. Effects of electromyography biofeedback-assisted relaxation on pain in patients with advanced cancer in a palliative care unit. Cancer Nursing. 2007; 30(5):347-53.
  6. Gruber BL, Hersh SP et al. Immunological responses of breast cancer patients to behavioral interventions. SO: Biofeedback and self-regulation. 1993; (1): 1-22.
  7. Fotopoulos SS, Cook MR, Graham C, Cohen H, Gerkovich M, Bond SS, Knapp T: Cancer pain: evaluation of electromyographic and electrodermal feedback. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1983; 132D:33-53. Ref ID: 25675
  8. Ernst E, Pittler M, Wider B and Boddy K. Oxford Handbook of Complementary Medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
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