Internal-External Control and Headache Response to Biofeedback and Psychotherapy

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the comparative validity of two competing hypotheses derived from different conceptualizations of internal versus external control. On the basis of the premise that this dimension is merely a belief on the periphery of personality, it was predicted that headache patients who felt that they could exert some influence over their own health would become more involved in and hence derive more benefit from both psychotherapy and biofeedback than their counterparts who did not believe that their own efforts could affect their health status. Following the assumption that locus of control is a manifestation of an underlying need, however, it was predicted that externally oriented headache patients would respond more favorably to the structure provided by biofeedback than would their internally oriented counterparts, whereas internals would fare better than externals in the relatively less directive arena of psychotherapy. Although the results were mixed, they tend on balance to offer differential support for the interaction hypothesis and hence for the formulation of locus of control as a reflection of an underlying need rather than as a superficial belief.

Aptitude-treatment interaction research in the clinical setting: A review of attempts to dispel the "patient uniformity" myth.

“…Nevertheless, it might be useful to examine this measure in the context of realistic treatments given to chronic pain patients, as it may have some utility under those circumstances (Hebben, 1985). Abramowitz et al (1984) examined health locus of control scores in relation to biofeedback and psychotherapy for tension headache patients. They hypothesized that internals would benefit more from less directive therapies, whereas the opposite was expected to be true for externals.…”

“…Abramowitz et al (1984) examined health locus of control scores in relation to biofeedback and psychotherapy for tension headache patients. They hypothesized that internals would benefit more from less directive therapies, whereas the opposite was expected to be true for externals.…”

Biofeedback

“…A consideration that should contribute to payer acceptability of biofeedback is its usefulness among individuals who may not respond well to other forms of psychological treatment. For example, people who believe that their problems are controlled from external sources or are low in hypnotizability show particularly good response to physiological control using biofeedback, whereas people who are high in internal locus of control show the opposite (Abramowitz, Bell, Folkins, Wolfe, & DuRand, 1984). It is important to use a method that is appealing to the individual consumer, particularly because all mind-body methods require a great amount of time and attention to home practice.…”