Biofeedback for Hypertension

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-102-5-709

Biofeedback for Hypertension

HEALTH AND PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE*; and
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Excerpt

Essential hypertension is a widespread problem, affecting as much as 10% to 15% of the population (1). Approximately 70% of the hypertensive population has relatively mild hypertension (diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 105 mm Hg) (1). Biofeedback has been applied to the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. As in other behavioral techniques, the objective of biofeedback has been to control blood pressure and reduce medication requirements.

Description Several different biofeedback techniques, both direct and indirect, have been used. Direct techniques involve either continuous or periodic cuff-pressure measurements or pulse-wave velocity measurements. Indirect biofeedback-assisted relaxation techniques incorporate galvanic

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project (CEAP) of the American College of Physicians is designed to evaluate and inform College members and others about the safety and efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Evaluation of technologies begins with a notice in the Annals of Internal Medicine and the ACP Observer inviting comments. Appropriate members of the Council of Medical Societies and the Council of Subspecialty Societies as well as other experts are asked to review technologies. The CEAP statements thus represent a synthesis of the literature and expert opinion and are intended to reflect the current state-of-the-art knowledge concerning a technology. Statements may be reconsidered as new information becomes available.

Article and Author Information

↵* This paper was authored by Peter M. Marzuk, M.D., and was developed for the Health and Public Policy Committee by the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee: Donald E. Olson, M.D., Chairman; David Banta, M.D.; Howard S. Frazier, M.D.; Richard B. Hornick, M.D.; Seymour Perry, M.D.; and Willis C. Maddrey, M.D. Members of the Health and Public Policy Committee for the 1984-85 term include Edwin P. Maynard III, M.D., Chairman; John H. Eisenberg, M.D.; Richard G. Farmer, M.D.; Daniel D. Federman, M.D.; John R. Hogness, M.D.; Leo E. Hollister, M.D.; Charles E. Lewis, M.D.; Donald E. Olson, M.D.; Malcolm L. Peterson, M.D.; Theodore B. Schwartz, M.D.; and Helen L. Smits, M.D. This paper was adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents on 28 January 1985.
Grant support: The development of this paper by the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project was funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Linda Johnson White, Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project, Department of Health and Public Policy, American College of Physicians, 4200 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.