Anxiety reduction in hospitalized schizophrenics through thermal biofeedback and relaxation training

Abstract

Biofeedback training and muscular relaxation have therapeutic value for general reduction of tension in non-patient and patient populations. The present study investigated the efficacy of thermal biofeedback and relaxation as adjunctive treatments to antipsychotic medication for reduction of anxiety in 40 hospitalized schizophrenics who were randomly assigned assigned to four groups: biofeedback, relaxation, biofeedback and relaxation, and minimal treatment control. Significant reduction in anxiety followed treatment, but there were no between-group differences. One-year follow-up and post boc analyses indicated a subgroup of "anxious" schizophrenics who showed substantial reduction in anxiety following treatment with biofeedback and relaxation.