Heymen S, Scarlett Y, and Whitehead WE Elevated Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Scores Predict Biofeedback Treatment Failure for Fecal Incontinence and Constipation (abstract). Gastroenterology 2003,124:4(suppl 1)A-685.
Heymen S, Scarlett Y, Whitehead WE Constipated subjects reporting physical abuse are more likely to fail an education/medical management intervention. Am J Gastroenterol Suppl 2004;99:T1364
Heymen S, Scarlett Y, Whitehead WE Severity of constipation and anxiety predict failure to improve with conservative medical treatment for constipation. Am J Gastroenterol Suppl 2004;99:T1370
Palsson OS, Heymen S, Whitehead WE Biofeedback treatment for functional anorectal disorders: a comprehensive efficacy review. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2004 Sep;29(3):153-74. Review.
Whitehead WE, Heymen S, Schuster MM Motility as a therapeutic modality: biofeedback treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Chapter 27. In MM Schuster, MD Crowell, KL Koch (Eds.), Schuster Atlas of Gastrointestinal Motility in Health and Disease. London, BC Decker Inc. 2002; 381-397.
Biofeedback for Fecal Incontinence and Constipation
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
