Muscle Biofeedback and Transcendental Meditation

A controlled study compared muscle biofeedback, transcendental meditation, and relaxation therapy for chronic anxiety over a six-week treatment period with follow-up of three to 18 months. Forty percent of subjects experienced a clinically significant decrease in anxiety. No differences emerged between treatments in efficacy, timing of symptom improvement, or durability of gains. The degree of muscle relaxation achieved did not relate to therapeutic outcome. Relaxation therapies alone appear to have limited value for chronic anxiety.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Recent articles have suggested that muscle biofeedback and transcendental meditation may be useful in treating chronic anxiety. To assess this, we conducted a controlled study comparing muscle biofeedback, transcendental mediation, and relaxation therapy. The study consisted of a six-week baseline period, six weeks of treatment, a six-week posttreatment observation period, and later follow-up. Thirty-one subjects completed the first part of the study and have been followed up for three to 18 months. Forty percent of the subjects had a clinically significant decrease in their anxiety. There were no differences between treatments with respect to treatment efficacy, onset of symptom amelioration, or maintenance of therapeutic gains. We found no evidence suggesting that the degree of muscle relaxation induced by any of the treatments is related to the therapeutic outcome. Relaxation therapies as a sole treatment appear to have a limited place in the treatment of chronic anxiety.