Date of Award

4-1992

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Chris Koronakos

Second Advisor

Dr. Wayne Fuqua

Third Advisor

Dr. Roger Ulrich

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Thomas Van Den Abell

Abstract

The efficacy of temporal artery blood volume pulse (BVP) biofeedback in the treatment of migraine was investigated. After four pre-treatment baseline psycho-physiological monitoring sessions, 8 migrainuers were randomly assigned to undergo 12 sessions of either BVP biofeedback or a placebo procedure (false feedback). Both treatments resulted in clinically significant and statistically equivalent reductions in headache activity and medication intake. Subjects exhibited substantial within-session decreases in BVP amplitude during pre-treatment baseline sessions and during false feedback, and the introduction of BVP biofeedback failed to increase the magnitude or the rate of BVP amplitude reductions. All subjects failed to show evidence of learned regulation of temporal artery BVP amplitude or BVP variability. No significant correlations were found between degree of headache reduction and amount of BVP amplitude reduction or amount of BVP variability.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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