Skip to content

Biofeedback Treatment for Functional Constipation

Biofeedback for Functional Constipation: Efficacy and Predictive Factors of Success

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00502957
Enrollment
15
Registered
2007-07-18
Start date
2005-03-31
Completion date
2007-11-30
Last updated
2010-06-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Constipation

Keywords

biofeedback, constipation

Brief summary

The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial is to examine how well biofeedback treatment works to improve constipation. The study is comparing two kinds of biofeedback treatment: 1) anorectal-specific biofeedback therapy and 2) generalized biofeedback therapy using relaxation techniques. The study will also examine which medical and psychological factors determine biofeedback success for treating constipation, such as bowel habits, emotional reactions to constipation, and levels of stress and psychological distress.

Detailed description

This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy of anorectal biofeedback therapy for functional constipation secondary to pelvic floor dyssynergia. Participants will be randomized to either six sessions of anorectal biofeedback or to six sessions of generalized biofeedback. Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline, at completion of randomized treatment(12 weeks), and six months after completion of treatment to measure change in bowel habits, constipation severity, constipation-related quality of life, and constipation-related disability. An examination of psychosocial factors will also be conducted prior to treatment to distinguish which ones are predictive of biofeedback success for functional constipation.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALBiofeedback

Sponsors

University of California, San Francisco
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* chronic constipation * medical recommendation to undergo biofeedback training

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026