Evidence based practice in neurofeedback
At The Bipolar Center and Center For Integrated Therapies, we follow neuroscience and neurofeedback research very carefully. We rely on this research to guide us in doing neurofeedback. In our hands, neurofeedback is an evidence-based practice. The National Institutes of Health and the American Psychological Association (APA) strongly advocate systematic reliance on research to guide treatment decisions. According to the APA, “Evidence based practice in psychology is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.” Below we summarize the neurofeedback research for many conditions. We also note when we believe its use is warranted. When we sit down and talk about your challenges and your goals, we will inform you about the neurofeedback research related to your condition.
Quotes from well known and esteemed medical doctors and psychologists
"[EEG biofeedback] should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used…It is a field to be taken seriously by all.”
-Frank H. Duffy, M.D., Professor and Neurologist, Harvard Medical School. The Journal of Clinical Electroencephalography
“In my 38 years of practice, I have never seen any treatment that comes close to producing the results that Neurofeedback offers . . . I have seen results achieved in days and weeks that previously took months and years to achieve, using the best methods available to us.”
– Jack Woodward, M.D, Board Certified Psychiatrist
“There have been over twenty years of published research studies and thousands of anecdotal case histories which document the effectiveness of biofeedback…Perhaps more importantly, there have been no published studies which negate the effectiveness of EEG biofeedback. During the past several years, many medical professionals have written books about the benefits of biofeedback for a variety of disorders… Many psychiatrists and neurologists have added EEG biofeedback to their practices. Despite this support, physicians and health care professionals will often discourage clients from pursuing EEG biofeedback. The skepticism from health care professionals appears to stem from their lack of education, experience and expertise in EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback), rather than issues regarding the effectiveness of the treatment. It is strongly recommended that when another health care professional or physician disputes the therapeutic value of biofeedback for the treatment of ADD, you ask them to identify the origin of their disapproval and suggest an exploration of the relevant scientific papers…”
– Barry Belt, Ph.D., Psychologist
“This is one of the broad reach of tools available, and it’s a good tool. Like any tool, it doesn’t work for everyone, but it does benefit most people. It accelerates symptom removal and the development of healthy self-regulation – meaning it helps the patient’s own body make the proper adjustments.”
– Thomas Brod, M.D., Psychiatrist, Los Angeles, CA
“In my own practice, I’ve used neurofeedback in a comprehensive medical treatment program to help more than 1,000 patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When combined with supportive therapies such as family counseling and educational therapy, EEG neurofeedback is the most effective treatment available. Critics of EEG neurofeedback hold this treatment to more rigid standards than drug treatments. Yet unlike drugs, neurofeedback is benign.”
– David F. Velkoff, M.D.
Medical Director Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine, Los Angeles
Physician’s Weekly POINT/COUNTERPOINT; July 13, 1998 Vol. XV, No. 26
“Among the newer approaches to managing ADD, the most exciting is a learning process called neurofeedback. It empowers a person to shift the way he pays attention. After more than twenty-five years of research in university labs, neurofeedback has become more widely available. This is a pleasing development, because neurofeedback has no negative side effects.” (Page 205)
– William Sears, M.D.
From Dr. Sears’ book, The A.D.D. Book
“It improves seizures, depression, low self-esteem or congenital head injuries. . . Patients report they sleep better, feel better, they don’t have seizures, they are more in control, and that they get more work done. It helps with closed head injury patients. It helps with chronic neurologic disease, where there is no active injury but there are problems with normal functioning. We’ve had success with multiple sclerosis, with toxic encephalopathy (for example, chemical poisoning interfering with neurologic functioning), with chronic pain, migraines and fibromyalgia. And of course, we get very good results with ADD.”
– Jonathan Walker, M.D.,
Board Certified Neurologist, Dallas, TX
Former Board Member of ISNR (International Society for Neuronal Regulation)
“Study after study has shown that the symptoms of attention deficit disorder can be controlled through (EEG) biofeedback…and it can make a huge difference in a child’s learning ability and self-esteem.
– “Dr. Phil” McGraw, Ph.D.
Syndicated Talk Show Host, Bestselling Author
“In my experience with EEG Biofeedback… many people are able to decrease their need for medication. Also, EEG biofeedback has helped to decrease impulsivity and aggressiveness. It is a powerful tool, in part because the patient becomes part of the treatment process by taking more control over his own physiological processes.” (p. 143-144)
– Daniel Amen, M.D., Neuropsychiatrist
Founder and Director of the Amen Clinics
From Dr. Amen’s book, Change Your Brain Change Your Life (Times Books)
Neurofeedback Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Hammond, D. Corydon. "Neurofeedback Treatment of Depression and Anxiety." Journal of Adult Development 12.2-3 (2005): 131-37. Web.
Clinical Use of an Alpha Asymmetry Neurofeedback Protocol in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: Follow-Up Study One to Five Years Post-Therapy (abs., pg. 7)
by Baehr E Ph.D., Rosenfeld JP Ph.D., Baehr R Ph.D.
This study reports on three of six patients who have completed an average of 27 neurofeedback sessions using a patented alpha asymmetry protocol for the treatment of depression. The follow-up data, from one to five years post therapy, were derived from a single session re-test using the same alpha asymmetry protocol and the Beck Depression Inventory.
Neurofeedback for the Bipolar Child (abs.)
by Othmer S Ph.D.
Bipolar Disorder used to be a rare diagnosis in childhood. Recent research has elevated the importance of Bipolar Disorder as an issue in perhaps 20% of children formally diagnosed as ADHD. The medical management of these children is problematic, tending to involve anti-convulsants and neuroleptics rather than stimulants and anti-depressants.
The Bipolar Child by Demitri and Janice Papolos (book review)
by Othmer S Ph.D.
A new diagnostic category is emerging: Childhood bipolar disorder. It was traditionally thought that as few as one in 200 cases of bipolar disorder had an onset which could be traced to childhood. Biederman's recent research shows that perhaps on the other of 20% of children identified as ADHD could be on the way to developing full-blown bipolar disorder. To make this identification, however, the markers of childhood bipolar disorder are destructive rage and irritation rather than the euphoria and elation that characterizes the adult form. The proof that the childhood form of the disorder metamorphoses into the adult form eventually must still be outstanding.
Neurofeedback in Major Depression Associated to Addictions - A Case Study (pg. 15)
by Ibric VL, M.D., PhD.
Depression has been treated for some time with Neurofeedback (NF) and different authors presented different modalities in terms of the electrodes localization, or enhanced or inhibited frequencies (see Othmers, Peniston, Rosenfeld,). The case I am presenting, is a 43 years old Caucasian female with familiar major depression and addictions. The causality of her major depression may also be routed in her early childhood experiences (she lost her father, when she was 12), or may be an expression of a complex PTSD developed later in life (when, her already detached and chronically depressed mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's). She started to use drugs and alcohol as self medication.
The Efficacy of Neurofeedback in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: An Open Labeled Prospective Study.Full Text AvailableAcademic Journal
Cheon, Eun-Jin; Koo, Bon-Hoon; Choi, Joong-Hyun, Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback Mar2016, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p103
At The Bipolar Center and Center For Integrated Therapies, we follow neuroscience and neurofeedback research very carefully. We rely on this research to guide us in doing neurofeedback. In our hands, neurofeedback is an evidence-based practice. The National Institutes of Health and the American Psychological Association (APA) strongly advocate systematic reliance on research to guide treatment decisions. According to the APA, “Evidence based practice in psychology is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.” Below we summarize the neurofeedback research for many conditions. We also note when we believe its use is warranted. When we sit down and talk about your challenges and your goals, we will inform you about the neurofeedback research related to your condition.
Quotes from well known and esteemed medical doctors and psychologists
"[EEG biofeedback] should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used…It is a field to be taken seriously by all.”
-Frank H. Duffy, M.D., Professor and Neurologist, Harvard Medical School. The Journal of Clinical Electroencephalography
“In my 38 years of practice, I have never seen any treatment that comes close to producing the results that Neurofeedback offers . . . I have seen results achieved in days and weeks that previously took months and years to achieve, using the best methods available to us.”
– Jack Woodward, M.D, Board Certified Psychiatrist
“There have been over twenty years of published research studies and thousands of anecdotal case histories which document the effectiveness of biofeedback…Perhaps more importantly, there have been no published studies which negate the effectiveness of EEG biofeedback. During the past several years, many medical professionals have written books about the benefits of biofeedback for a variety of disorders… Many psychiatrists and neurologists have added EEG biofeedback to their practices. Despite this support, physicians and health care professionals will often discourage clients from pursuing EEG biofeedback. The skepticism from health care professionals appears to stem from their lack of education, experience and expertise in EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback), rather than issues regarding the effectiveness of the treatment. It is strongly recommended that when another health care professional or physician disputes the therapeutic value of biofeedback for the treatment of ADD, you ask them to identify the origin of their disapproval and suggest an exploration of the relevant scientific papers…”
– Barry Belt, Ph.D., Psychologist
“This is one of the broad reach of tools available, and it’s a good tool. Like any tool, it doesn’t work for everyone, but it does benefit most people. It accelerates symptom removal and the development of healthy self-regulation – meaning it helps the patient’s own body make the proper adjustments.”
– Thomas Brod, M.D., Psychiatrist, Los Angeles, CA
“In my own practice, I’ve used neurofeedback in a comprehensive medical treatment program to help more than 1,000 patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When combined with supportive therapies such as family counseling and educational therapy, EEG neurofeedback is the most effective treatment available. Critics of EEG neurofeedback hold this treatment to more rigid standards than drug treatments. Yet unlike drugs, neurofeedback is benign.”
– David F. Velkoff, M.D.
Medical Director Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine, Los Angeles
Physician’s Weekly POINT/COUNTERPOINT; July 13, 1998 Vol. XV, No. 26
“Among the newer approaches to managing ADD, the most exciting is a learning process called neurofeedback. It empowers a person to shift the way he pays attention. After more than twenty-five years of research in university labs, neurofeedback has become more widely available. This is a pleasing development, because neurofeedback has no negative side effects.” (Page 205)
– William Sears, M.D.
From Dr. Sears’ book, The A.D.D. Book
“It improves seizures, depression, low self-esteem or congenital head injuries. . . Patients report they sleep better, feel better, they don’t have seizures, they are more in control, and that they get more work done. It helps with closed head injury patients. It helps with chronic neurologic disease, where there is no active injury but there are problems with normal functioning. We’ve had success with multiple sclerosis, with toxic encephalopathy (for example, chemical poisoning interfering with neurologic functioning), with chronic pain, migraines and fibromyalgia. And of course, we get very good results with ADD.”
– Jonathan Walker, M.D.,
Board Certified Neurologist, Dallas, TX
Former Board Member of ISNR (International Society for Neuronal Regulation)
“Study after study has shown that the symptoms of attention deficit disorder can be controlled through (EEG) biofeedback…and it can make a huge difference in a child’s learning ability and self-esteem.
– “Dr. Phil” McGraw, Ph.D.
Syndicated Talk Show Host, Bestselling Author
“In my experience with EEG Biofeedback… many people are able to decrease their need for medication. Also, EEG biofeedback has helped to decrease impulsivity and aggressiveness. It is a powerful tool, in part because the patient becomes part of the treatment process by taking more control over his own physiological processes.” (p. 143-144)
– Daniel Amen, M.D., Neuropsychiatrist
Founder and Director of the Amen Clinics
From Dr. Amen’s book, Change Your Brain Change Your Life (Times Books)
Neurofeedback Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Hammond, D. Corydon. "Neurofeedback Treatment of Depression and Anxiety." Journal of Adult Development 12.2-3 (2005): 131-37. Web.
- A meta analysis of multiple research studies and scholarly articles regarding the efficacy of neurofeedback treating depression and anxiety
- Depression and anxiety are common after injuries, pre and post performance.
- How a player deals with anxiety is one of the biggest factors in being successful in sports and life
- Very significant improvement in symptoms after 10-12 sessions
- "If any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used"
Clinical Use of an Alpha Asymmetry Neurofeedback Protocol in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: Follow-Up Study One to Five Years Post-Therapy (abs., pg. 7)
by Baehr E Ph.D., Rosenfeld JP Ph.D., Baehr R Ph.D.
This study reports on three of six patients who have completed an average of 27 neurofeedback sessions using a patented alpha asymmetry protocol for the treatment of depression. The follow-up data, from one to five years post therapy, were derived from a single session re-test using the same alpha asymmetry protocol and the Beck Depression Inventory.
Neurofeedback for the Bipolar Child (abs.)
by Othmer S Ph.D.
Bipolar Disorder used to be a rare diagnosis in childhood. Recent research has elevated the importance of Bipolar Disorder as an issue in perhaps 20% of children formally diagnosed as ADHD. The medical management of these children is problematic, tending to involve anti-convulsants and neuroleptics rather than stimulants and anti-depressants.
The Bipolar Child by Demitri and Janice Papolos (book review)
by Othmer S Ph.D.
A new diagnostic category is emerging: Childhood bipolar disorder. It was traditionally thought that as few as one in 200 cases of bipolar disorder had an onset which could be traced to childhood. Biederman's recent research shows that perhaps on the other of 20% of children identified as ADHD could be on the way to developing full-blown bipolar disorder. To make this identification, however, the markers of childhood bipolar disorder are destructive rage and irritation rather than the euphoria and elation that characterizes the adult form. The proof that the childhood form of the disorder metamorphoses into the adult form eventually must still be outstanding.
Neurofeedback in Major Depression Associated to Addictions - A Case Study (pg. 15)
by Ibric VL, M.D., PhD.
Depression has been treated for some time with Neurofeedback (NF) and different authors presented different modalities in terms of the electrodes localization, or enhanced or inhibited frequencies (see Othmers, Peniston, Rosenfeld,). The case I am presenting, is a 43 years old Caucasian female with familiar major depression and addictions. The causality of her major depression may also be routed in her early childhood experiences (she lost her father, when she was 12), or may be an expression of a complex PTSD developed later in life (when, her already detached and chronically depressed mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's). She started to use drugs and alcohol as self medication.
The Efficacy of Neurofeedback in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: An Open Labeled Prospective Study.Full Text AvailableAcademic Journal
Cheon, Eun-Jin; Koo, Bon-Hoon; Choi, Joong-Hyun, Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback Mar2016, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p103
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