SPECIAL ISSUE: Immune Function – Level 3 – Probably Efficacious

This review evaluates published research examining the efficacy of treating immune function with biofeedback and neurofeedback. The “Template for Developing Guidelines for the Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of Psychophysiological Interventions” (La Vaque et al., 2002) serves as a guide to determine efficacy levels based on the studies presented. Eight randomized controlled trials examined whether interventions that included a biofeedback component (surface electromyography and temperature) could increase immunity. One study tested whether HRV BF training could protect participants from the effects of an endotoxin lipopolysaccharide injection. Another study investigated whether neurofeedback could increase CD4+ cell counts. These studies collectively show that biofeedback and neurofeedback promise to boost immune function, especially in patients with compromised immunity. The studies reviewed here are summarized in the Table.