"Biofeedback" do ritmo cardíaco no tratamento de doentes fóbicos por exposição "in vivo": Algumas conclusões após trabalho de replicação

Ten specific phobics improved during a mean of two sessions of experimental treaiment by exposure in vivo in a balanced design. Short- -term results replicated those of a previous study that self-control of heart rate with the aid of biofeedback significantly reduced heart rate during treatment, but this did not hasten reduction of subjective anxiety, nor of respiratory rate or skin conductance responses. An hour's pretreatment training in self-control of heart rate with the aid of feedback had a significant during treatment, but the addition of heart rate feedback to instructions significantly augmented the decline in heart rate. The overall results are discussed and suggestiom for future work are made