Defining Efficacy of Biofeedback

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The AABP research guidelines define this specifically:

“The investigational treatment has been shown to be statistically superior to credible sham therapy, pill, or alternative bona fide treatment in at least two independent research settings. 

Efficacious:

a.) In a comparison with a no-treatment control group, alternative treatment group, or sham (placebo) control utilizing randomized assignment, the investigational treatment is shown to be statistically significantly superior to the control condition or the investigational treatment is equivalent to a treatment of established efficacy in a study with sufficient power to detect moderate differences, and

b.) The studies have been conducted with a population treated for a specific problem, for whom inclusion criteria are delineated in a reliable, operationally defined manner, and

c.) The study used valid and clearly specified outcome measures related to the problem being treated and

d.) The data are subjected to appropriate data analysis, and

e.) The diagnostic and treatment variables and procedures are clearly defined in a manner that permits replication of the study by independent researchers, and

f.) The superiority or equivalence of the investigational treatment have been shown in at least two independent research settings.” (aapb.org)

The AABP research guidelines define this specifically:

“Probably Efficacious: Multiple observational studies, clinical studies, wait list controlled studies, and within subject and intrasubject replication studies that demonstrate efficacy.” (aapb.org)

The AABP research guidelines define this specifically:

“Possibly Efficacious: At least one study of sufficient statistical power with well identified outcome measures, but lacking randomized assignment to a control condition internal to the study.” (aapb.org)