Abstract
Habit cough is a persistent ‘barking’ cough that does not have a medical basis. The current study evaluated a biofeedback approach using skin temperature feedback with a family focus in the treatment of an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with habit cough. Treatment consisted of six, one hour sessions with the family for part of the session and then individually with the girl. Individual treatment involved skin-temperature biofeedback to teach relaxation during the coughing episodes. The girl was cough free at the end of the sixth session and remained cough free at the end of a one and two year follow-ups. The use of a single case baseline design demonstrated the reduction of coughing and increase in extracurricular activity. It is, noteworthy that the girl demonstrated a significant ability to increase skin temperature during treatment and when asked to try to control her cough.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Bernstein, L. (1963). A respiratory tic: "The barking cough of puberty". Laryngoscope, 13, 315–319.
Bye, M. R. (2000). Use of peak flow meter for positive feedback in psychogenic cough. Pediatrics, 106, 852–853.
Elkund, D. (2001) Challenging case: Chronic disease-developmental and behavioral implications. Pediatrics, 107, 959–963.
McConaughy, S. H., & Achenbach, T. M. (1998). Practical guide for the child behavior checklist and related materials. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.
Niggemann, B. (2002) Functional symptoms confused with allergic disorders in children and adolescents. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 13, 312–318.
Pierce, J. S., & Watson, T. S. (1998) Psychogenic cough in children: A literature review. Children's Health Care, 27(1), 63–76.
Sexton, T. L., & Alexander, J. F. (1999) Functional family therapy: Principles of clinical intervention, assessment and application. Henderson, NV: RHC Enterprises.
Skinner, H. A., Steinhauer, P. D., & Santa-Barbara, J. (1995) FAM-III family assessment measure version III: Technical manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Labbé, E.E. Biofeedback and Cognitive Coping in the Treatment of Pediatric Habit Cough. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 31, 167–172 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-006-9007-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-006-9007-5