A utilização do biofeedback na intensidade da depressão: um ensaio clínico randomizado

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a common disease in the world, which can lead to disability and suicide. To increase effectiveness of treatment and address the limitations of conventional methods, additional treatments have been proposed. Biofeedback, for example, is a method that provides an alternative approach to treatment of people with depression symptoms. It uses monitoring equipment which allows information on some physiological processes by which the individual may develop awareness and control a particular function, such as the respiratory control. The object of this study is the use of biofeedback in the intensity reduction of depression in users of psychiatric outpatient clinics and Psychosocial Care Center. Objectives: The main objective of this research was evaluating the use of biofeedback in the intensity of depression in Psychosocial Care Center and psychiatric outpatient users of Maceió, Alagoas. As the secondary objectives, it is cited: to characterize depressed users regard to gender, age, age group, marital status, race or color, children, occupation, income, health insurance, residency, situation of residency, family dynamics, and schooling; and to verify the level of depression, suicidal ideation, hopelessness and anxiety in users with depression. Methods: Randomized clinical trial on the effect of interventions with biofeedback in the intensity of depression in users assisted in psychiatry clinic and Psychosocial Care Center of Maceió, Alagoas. Sample calculated on 34 people, 17 per group. Final sample composed by 36 participants met in the services. From these, 18 people were in the experimental group, receiving six weekly training with biofeedback, with an average duration of 10 to 30 minutes, as an adjuvant to conventional treatment received. The control group had 18 people met, who did not receive biofeedback training and continued to receive conventional treatment in the service. The logistics of the study research impossible to double-blind; only the researcher who analyzed the data was blinded. The sensor Respiration and Blood Volume Pulse sensors have been used in practice. The outcome measures were assessed in two stages, one pre-test and post-test other. The following instruments were used in the pre-test: survey population data, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0.0, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Suicide Ideation Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory. In the post-test, only the inventories and the scale were used. Results: It was observed a statistical significance for the variables: depression score - post-test (p = 0.012), depression score difference - pre-test and post-test (p=0.000), anxiety score - post-test (p=0.017) and anxiety score difference - pre-test and post-test (p=0.002). There was no significance for the variables of suicidal ideation score and hopelessness score. Conclusion: We conclude that the alternative hypothesis of this research is true for this sample, that is, the use of biofeedback presents positive statistical difference related to levels of depression compared to the control group. So, biofeedback use represents an complementary intervention for the treatment of depression in moderate to severe levels, and also in dysthymia.