Biofeedback / Neurofeedback
Scientific support for Neurofeedback
Although neurofeedback is a relatively new treatment, there are a number of scientific studies that show its effectiveness for a variety of conditions, and more studies are underway. Below are hyperlinked articles for you to explore...
Anxiety and PTSD
1. A review of 5 studies of Neurofeedback on patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) found strong positive results. Two of the five studies did follow ups after 26 and 30 months and both found that most patients continued to be improved.
2. A study found that neurofeedback training on the orbitofrontal cortex significantly reduced contamination anxiety (commonly found in OCD, but also present in other types of anxiety)
3. A review of various uses of Neurofeedback found that it significantly reduced anxiety in test takers, and in anxious alcoholics.
4. A review of a variety of published studies on Neurofeedback for ADHD found positive results on symptoms, and some evidence that Neurofeedback changed brain activity patterns.
5. A review of randomized controlled trials found 11 since 2006, and 8 since 2010. Combining the data, they found significant improvement in inattention and in hyperactivity, the two main types of symptoms in ADHD
6. A pilot study found that neurofeedback aimed at frontal asymmetry led to improvement in a majority of patients with depression
7. A case study of depressed patients who underwent Neurofeedback focused on the frontal lobes (the front of the brain) found a substantial benefit in 77.8% of patients
8. A randomized controlled trial of Amygdala-Guided Neurofeedback in patients with Depression found that 66.7% of the experimental group responded, compared to only 13.3% of the control group.
9. In a pilot study of professional and elite athletes in the Netherlands, both Neurofeedback and heart rate biofeedback led to significant improvements in performance-related measures. The Athletes experienced improvement in emotional stability, heart rate variability, and concentration.
10. Top Slovenian athletes who underwent biofeedback training for 8 weeks were found to have more control over their bodies in stressful situations. The athletes found that it improved their athletic performance, and the improvement remained one year after completion of biofeedback.
11. Neurofeedback helped an olympic athlete who had lost confidence after an injury to regain functioning in parts of the brain that are associated with confidence.
Neurofeedback is currently being used and studied at these institutions:
Article References:
Reiter K, Andersen SB, Carlsson J. Neurofeedback Treatment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Effectiveness of Neurofeedback on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Optimal Choice of Protocol. J Nerv Mental Dis. 2016 Feb;204(2):69-77
Scheinost D, Stoica T, Saksa J, et al. Orbitofrontal Cortex Neurofeedback Produces Lasting Changes in Contamination Anxiety and Resting-State Connectivity. Trans Psychiatry 2013 Apr;3(4):e250
Hammond DC. Neurofeedback Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. J Adult Dev. 2005 Aug;12(2-3):131-137
Moriyama TS, Polanczyk G, Caye A, et al. Evidence-based Information on the Clinical Use of Neurofeedback for ADHD. Neurotherapeutics 2012 Jul;9(3):588-98
Lofthouse N, Arnold LE, Hurt E. Current Status of Neurofeedback for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Current Psychiatry Rep. 2012 Oct;14(5):536-42
Peeters F, Oehlen M, Ronner J, et al. Neurofeedback as a Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder - A Pilot Study. PLoS One. 2014 Mar 18;9(3):e91837
Williams LM. Amygdala-Guided Neurofeedback for Major Depression. Am J Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 1;174(8):717-718
Rijken NH, Soer R, de Maar E et al. Increasing Performance of Professional Soccer Players and Elite Track and Field Athletes with Peak Performance Training and Biofeedback: A Pilot Study. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2016 Dec;41(4):421-430
Pusenjak N, Grad A, Tusak M et al. Can Biofeedback Training of Psychophysiological Responses Enhance Athletes' Sport Performance? A Practitioners Perspective. Phys Sportsmed. 2015 Jul;43(3):287-99
Graczyk M, Pachalska M, Ziolkowski A. Neurofeedback Training for Peak Performance. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(4): 871-5
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