A Pilot Study of Neurofeedback for Chronic PTSD

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Mark GapenJoseph Spinazzola

Abstract

EEG Biofeedback (also known as neurofeedback) has been in use as a clinical intervention for well over 30 years; however, it has made very little impact on clinical care. One reason for this has been the difficulty in designing research to measure clinical change in the real world. While substantial evidence exists for its efficacy in treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, relatively little evidence exists for its utility in other disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study represents a "proof-of-concept" pilot for the use of neurofeedback with multiply-traumatized individuals with treatment-resistant PTSD. Participants completed 40 sessions of neurofeedback training two times per week with sensors randomly assigned (by the study coordinator, who was not blind to condition) to sensor placements of either T4-P4 or T3-T4. We found that neurofeedback significantly reduced PTSD symptoms (Davidson Trauma Scale scores averaged 69.14 at baseline to 49.26 at termination), and preceded gains in affect regulation (Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities-Affect Dysregulation scores averaged 23.63 at baseline to 17.20 at termination). We discuss a roadmap for future research.

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Citations

Mar 31, 2018·The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis·Anna Gerge
Aug 17, 2018·Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)·Karin Alice SchoutenGiel J M Hutschemaekers
Jan 28, 2020·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·Jordan I AliColette M Smart
Jun 15, 2018·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Jana ZweeringsKlaus Mathiak
Sep 18, 2018·Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma·Tiffany M NasteJoseph Spinazzola
Nov 10, 2020·Journal of Neural Engineering·Jing ZhangBenjamin T Dunkley
Nov 12, 2021·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Angela A T SchuurmansRoy Otten

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