Behavioral Medicine Use of cognitive behavioral interventions such as biofeedback, meditation, progressive relaxation techniques, and education on stress management in order to treat conditions such as hypertension and insomnia. Outcomes research is required to determine whether techniques known to alter physiology acutely in highly trained individuals in a laboratory study can in fact induce chronic physiologic changes in selected patient groups. For hypertension, an article published by David Eisenberg, et.al. in 1993 in the Annals of Internal Medicine , based upon a review of existing literature, found no significant evidence for benefit of cognitive interventions beyond that of sham techniques or self-monitoring of blood pressure alone. On the other hand, in 1995 a NIH panel concluded based upon a review of published studies that hypnosis and biofeedback are effective in alleviating chronic pain associated with certain cancers, as well as tension headaches, and that relaxation techniques are effective in treating insomnia. Many also consider biofeedback useful in the treatment of Raynaud's, asthma, and stress urinary incontinence.
Belief alone elicits healing.
Much of the history of medicine is the history of the placebo effect. This is part of the art of medicine. Scientific study of the role of faith and belief in healing requires researchers to bridge the gap between the social sciences and the natural sciences. Norman Cousins reminds us that the placebo effect begins with patient confidence in the practitioner, and that the belief of the practitioner is an important factor. Neuroimmunology Robert Ader, a University of Rochester psychologist, showed in 1974 that the immune system of rats can be classically conditioned.