What are the differences and similarities among the mind-body approaches of meditation, biofeedback, and hypnotic treatment?​

A. Transcendental meditation, mindfulness meditation, and guided imagery can produce relaxation, stress reduction, and decreases in anxiety.
B. Hypnosis is controversial, even in terms of its existence; however, attainment of a hypnotic state is accompanied by relaxation and can alter the perception of pain.
C. Biofeedback is a procedure that uses machines to give feedback about the status of a body system in order to help people learn conscious control of that system.
D. Differences
1. The amount of assistance needed to use the technique differs for the three: biofeedback requires machinery and extensive training, hypnotic treatment requires a hypnotherapist and practice, and meditation requires training and practice.
2. The expense of the three procedures may not vary for the client, but cost to provide each is related to the amount of training required by the provider and the time to master the technique. Biofeedback is most expensive because of the equipment and training time.
E. Similarities
1. All three procedures increase physical relaxation and decrease the physical responses associated with stress.
2. All three procedures decrease anxiety.
3. All three procedures have been used with some success in treatment for stress-related physical disorders and as treatment for pain, but hypnosis has been the most effective of the three in the management of pain.