Neurofeedback

A recent study evaluated 15 publications from metanalytisch estimates and neurofeedback as a therapy is a promising method. The analysis of the research team from Nijmegen and Tübingen therapy is based on data from 1194 patients, of which 60% were children and 40% adults.

The research team evaluated 15 studies from the neurofeedback therapy for ADHD inserting. The treated patients had ADHD / ADD as a primary diagnosis. Their therapeutic progress was recorded before and after treatment using the following instruments: Hyperactivity: Conners assessment with a DSM rating scale as (CPRS-R) or DSM-IV Rating Scale (Lauth & Schlottke) Inattention:

Compared to untreated control groups reached a medium to large Neurofeedback efficacy on the core symptoms inattention (effect size 0.81) and impulsivity (effect size 0.69). For hyperactivity - another core symptom of ADHD - however, only a mean effect size (ES = 12:40) were found.

Procedures sufficient quality criteria

Thus, neurofeedback is recognized as an effective method because the criteria of Level 5 of the "Guidelines for Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Psychophysiological Interventions (2002)" are met. This classification requires that the neurofeedback treatment of a credible sham therapy or credible alternative treatment is superior in at least two independent studies. The name is like a seal of approval that the treatment has a specific (source article p.181).

Three studies (Bakshayesh, Gevensleben et al. And Holtmann et al.) Neurofeedback treatment compared to alternative measures, with attention given EMG biofeedback or training was conducted. These studies showed that neurofeedback was also superior to these treatment groups. This also results in a medium to large effect for the core symptoms of attention and impulsivity, and a small to medium effect size in reducing hyperactivity. In particular, the study of Gevensleben et. al. (2009), N = 94, which subjects attributing randomly the neurofeedback group and the attention training group, shows a mean effect size (ES = 0.55) (ES = 0.97) for hyperactivity and high effect size for attention for Neurofeedback.

Psychotherapy must often be measured by the effect of psychotropic drugs. How does neurofeedback compare? With respect to the core symptom hyperactivity differ treatment outcomes of drug therapy with respect to the core symptom of the treatment by means not impulsiveness neurofeedback. The symptoms inattention and hyperactivity was present due to insufficient data, however, no meaningful comparison between a stimulant medication and neurofeedback into existence, so that the result is left open initially.

Some data, the authors report in addition, indicate a specific but also special effects of neurofeedback. The number of training sessions increased the concentration capabilities of the patients (p = 0.04, r = .55), not hyperactivity and impulsivity improve but only up to the limit of 25 training sessions, also.

Arns, M., de Ridder, S., Strehl, U., Breteler, M. & Coenen, A. Efficacy of Neurofeedback Treatment in ADHD: The effects on inattention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity: a Meta-Analysis. EEG and Clinical Neuroscience, 40 (3), 180-189.