Biofeedback as an adjunct to conventional stress management and relaxation techniques in substance abuse disorders: A randomized controlled interventional study

Background: Biofeedback has been employed in substance abuse disorder over the last three decades. Stress, anxiety, and depression are commonly seen in patients with substance abuse disorders. Biofeedback employed in conjunction with other relaxation therapies may be useful in enhancing certain outcome of therapy. Biofeedback either alone for alcoholism or in combination with other relaxation techniques for stimulant and mixed substance abuse and combined with residential treatment program is probably efficacious. Objectives: This study is aimed at assessing effectiveness of biofeedback-assisted relaxation techniques and stress management for substance abuse population. Study Design: A randomized controlled interventional study design was chosen for the research. Methods: The study sample consisted of 60 in-patient males aged 18–55 years, diagnosed with mental and behavioral disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substance, according to the International Classification of Diseases-10, Diagnostic Criteria for Research (1992) criteria (30 in biofeedback and 30 in control groups). The patients were first screened for inclusion criteria and then recruited from CIIMHANS Mental Health Institute of Central India using lottery method for random allocation. A randomized controlled interventional study design was chosen for the research. Sociodemographic data and clinical details of all the patients were assessed using Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale followed by biofeedback-assisted relaxation techniques, which was conducted for 30 days. Results: The present study shows that there was significant difference in the stress (t = 3.841, P < 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.06–9.73), anxiety (t = 3.849, P < 0.01, 95% CI: 2.06–6.53), and depression (t = 2.03, P < 0.05, 95% CI: 0.03–0.67) among patients of substance abuse disorders in the biofeedback group as compared to control group. Conclusion: The present study found that the biofeedback-assisted relaxation technique is efficacious in decreasing level of depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with substance abuse disorders.