Sobriety outcome after alcoholism treatment with biofeedback participation: a pilot inpatient study.

The effect of the amount of biofeedback training received upon abstinence from alcohol was studied at 3, 6, and 12 months postdischarge for 233 male veterans in an inpatient alcoholic rehabilitation unit (ARU). The frequency of sobriety for those patients with at least 6 training sessions was significantly better than for those with less or no training at all three time periods. The effect was most prominent for those receiving the highest level of biofeedback training (8+ sessions), and at the earlier time frame (3 months). The discussion focused upon the implications for overall rehabilitation programming for the alcoholic and on factors involved in the efficacy of biofeedback therapy.