Neurofeedback therapy is an adjunct treatment used to help improve psychiatric conditions like ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, depression and more. It uses electroencephalogram (EEG) feedback to teach brainwave patterns and how to control them in order to reduce symptoms.
The most common method is called EEG Neurofeedback Therapy neurofeedback. In this form of the treatment, a therapist will attach electrodes to your head and then monitor brain activity through visual or audio prompts. They may ask questions based on the issues you are trying to address or simply watch and play a video game on the screen while they monitor your brain activity.
When the therapist finds your brainwaves meet the goals of the treatment, they will reward you by showing the positive results on the screen. For example, if you are trying to train your brain waves to make less of the fast beta waves and more of the slower alpha waves, the therapist will reward you by showing a movie with larger letters, or playing a video game where you score higher than usual. These positive reinforcements help you learn to self-correct and are repeated thousands of times during a single neurofeedback session.
Research shows that EEG neurofeedback helps reduce symptoms of many psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, phobias, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and more. It also appears to have benefits for organic brain conditions, such as autism and seizure disorders. It can be used in conjunction with medications or as a standalone treatment.
Unlike some other therapies that use invasive methods, such as MRI or MEG, neurofeedback is non-invasive and painless. In addition, it can be used on patients of all ages. It is also safe for patients with a variety of medical conditions, including pregnancy and breastfeeding.
While the research on neurofeedback is limited, some studies show that it can help with other disorders, such as insomnia and migraines. It also improves learning ability and reading performance, while reducing fatigue and anxiety. Moreover, it is useful in reducing the frequency of seizures in epilepsy and reduces negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and stress.
Some studies have shown that neurofeedback can be helpful in overcoming drug addiction. For example, it can help lower the urge to take cocaine in people who are dependent on it (Horrell et al., 2010). It can also reduce temptation and craving in substance abusers who are trying to quit using drugs or alcohol.
The effectiveness of neurofeedback is largely due to its ability to encourage neuroplasticity. The changes it makes to the brain can last long after your neurofeedback sessions have ended. That is why it’s important to have regular sessions, usually 2-3 times per week. It can sometimes take 10 – 20 sessions before you notice changes, but once you do it becomes easier to maintain the new brain wave patterns. Depending on your insurance plan, it is often possible to get insurance reimbursement for this treatment through a health savings account or HSA card.