Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40072794›Full record

Trial reportApplied psychophysiology and biofeedback2025

The Effect of Electroencephalographic Biofeedback Therapy on Anxiety and Overall Well-being in Patients with Rectal Cancer.

Erhong Zhao, Zhongxin Li, Juan Zhang, Baokun Li, Jingli He, Hui Liu, Junxia Wang

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Erhong ZhaoSecond Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Zhongxin LiSecond Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Juan ZhangSecond Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Baokun LiSecond Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Jingli HeSecond Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Hui LiuSecond Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Junxia WangDepartment of Pediatrics, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, NO. 12, JianKang Road, Hebei, Shijiazhuang, 050011, PR China. junxiawang1708@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback therapy in reducing anxiety levels and improving overall well-being among patients diagnosed with rectal cancer. A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 150 patients with rectal cancer who were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 75) or the control group (n = 75). The intervention group received 16 sessions of EEG biofeedback therapy over 8 weeks, whereas the control group received standard care. Anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up and 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes, including quality of life, sleep quality, treatment adherence, cortisol levels and heart rate variability (HRV), were also evaluated. The intervention group showed significant reductions in state anxiety (p < 0.001) and trait anxiety (p < 0.001) compared with the control group at all post-intervention time points. Significant improvements were also observed in the intervention group for quality of life (p < 0.001), sleep quality (p < 0.001), treatment adherence (p < 0.001), cortisol levels (p < 0.01) and HRV (p < 0.01). The effects were maintained at the 12-month follow-up. Electroencephalographic biofeedback therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety levels and improving overall well-being in patients with rectal cancer. The findings suggest that incorporating EEG biofeedback therapy into the standard care of patients with rectal cancer may enhance their psychological well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, treatment adherence, physiological stress responses and autonomic function. Long-term benefits were observed, indicating the sustainability of the intervention's effects. Further research is warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms and potential applications of EEG biofeedback therapy in other cancer populations.

Indexed as

AnxietyBiofeedback, PsychologyElectroencephalographyQuality of LifeRectal NeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleHeart RateHumansHydrocortisoneMaleMiddle AgedSleep QualityTreatment OutcomeHydrocortisoneAnxietyCortisolElectroencephalographic biofeedback therapyHeart rate variabilityQuality of lifeRandomised controlled trialRectal cancerSleep qualityTreatment adherence

Identifiers

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.