Biofeedback in the Treatment of Somatoform Disorders Using a controlled clinical trial we evaluated the effect of a 6-session biofeedback treatment for somatoform disorders. The intervention included the demonstration of psychophysiological mechanisms to change patients’ catastrophizing cognitions of bodily symptoms. In addition, the control of physiological processes by biofeedback should enhance self-control strategies in the management of symptoms. The patients of the comparison group received a relaxation-based treatment. In total, 50 patients with somatization syndrome (at least 8 somatoform symptoms) were randomized to the 2 treatment groups. The biofeedback group showed a reduction of catastrophizing cognitions (assessed by the questionaire ‘body and health’), whereas patients of the control group did not. All patients evaluated each therapy session separately. Patients of the biofeedback group rated ‘confidence and credibility’ as well as ‘perceived success and coping strategies’ better than patients of the control group. They did not differ in the ratings of ‘quality of therapeutical relation’.

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