ADDICTIONS: Recent studies report on the promising potential demonstrated by neurofeedback therapy in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, widely recognized as a particularly challenging and difficult treatment problem. The signature EEG brainwave pattern of those addicted to alcohol shows low levels of alpha and theta waves. “A University of Connecticut School of Medicine researcher, Lance Bauer, has found that use of quantitative electroencephlography (QEEG) is a reliable tool to predict which patients with hsitories of abuse of alcohol, cocaine, or opioid dependence are prone to relapse. QEEGs were given to 107 substance-dependent patients enrolled in a treatment program and to 22 controls with history of substance abuse. A QEEG was administrered when the patients had been free of alcohol or drug use for an average of three months. The patients were then monitored for the next six months to see if they resumed using. It was observed that the 48 patients who relapsed shared a similar characteristic, namely their QEEGs showed an increased amount of high-frequency activity, compared to the 59 patients who maintained abstinence and to the 22 control subjects. This high-frequency activity on the QEEGs was found to far outweigh clinical and demographic variables as a predictor of relapse.” (Counselor, February 2002)
The use of alcohol tends to increase levels of alpha and theta waves. Research shows that neurofeedback also tends to increase levels of these waves, providing an effective alternative for addiction treatment.
For example, one group of alcoholics received traditional treatment while another received experimental treatment including neurofeedback in one study. In a four-year follow-up, 80% of the experimental group remained sober compared to only 20% of the traditionally treated group. In addition, the experimental group showed improved psychological adjustment on many scales of personality testing compared to the traditional group.
Another study showed similar results with drug addiction in an inpatient residential facility, treating experimental and control groups whose drug of choice was cocaine or methamphetamines. Adding neurofeedback to conventional therapies appeared to increase the length of time patients stayed in treatment so they could improve attentional and personality factors and increase the likelihood of permanent abstinence. Experimental group members relapsed 19% compared to 42% of control group members and showed marked improvement in personality testing.
Furthermore, we concur with the experience of therapists across the country: neurofeedback has proved useful in the treatment of many other addictions, including sex and gambling.
ANXIETY AND PANIC DISORDER: We treat both Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder with great success. Using our holistic therapy approach, clients can be panic attack free in approximately six weeks.
Neurofeedback therapy again provides another powerful tool for treating these disorders. Research has associated alpha brainwave enhancement with reduction of anxiety levels in those chronically anxious people who have a deficit in alpha production.
ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD/ADHD): Neurofeedback therapy trains clients to recognize and regulate brainwave patterns for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorders. Research spanning the mid 1980’s to the present reports that neurofeedback can eliminate or substantially reduce ADD/ADHD symptoms in up to 85% of cases. Case follow-ups lasting up to 10 years post-treatment suggest that improved symptoms such as decreased impulsivity/ hyperactivity, increased mood stability, improved sleep patterns, increased attention span and concentration, improved academic performance, and increased attention and memory are not only maintained, but may actually continue to improve after training.
ADD/ADHD affects adults, as well as children. If an adult has ADD/ADHD it is likely to affect his/her work performance and relationships. At our office, we not only treat the symptoms, but help people with coping techniques to improve work performance and relationships.
Neurofeedback has also proven effective in treating learning disabilities of many types. In addition, we offer coaching, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and family therapy to help with the symptoms and repercussions of ADD/ADHD.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS)/FIBROMYALGIA: A variety of symptoms—fatigue, anxiety, physical aches, and a broad array of cognitive difficulties— are present in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The cause or combination of causes is not currently known. EEG research shows that CFS patients often exhibit significantly higher theta (slow wave) brainwave frequency measures compared to normal control groups, both at rest and when engaged in a cognitive task. Although fibromyalgia is a separate disorder, it produces many of the same symptoms, such as physical and mental fatigue and mental fogginess.
We have experienced good success in significantly reducing symptoms and improving CFS or fibromyalgia clients’ quality of life through neurofeedback and holistic therapy.
CLOSED HEAD INJURY/HEAD TRAUMA: The brain is capable of enormous integration of various inputs and sensory orchestration—like multi-tasking in the computer world. A mild, closed-head injury interferes with this multi-tasking ability to attend and concentrate. It causes problems with memory, mental calculations, and sleep; emotional lability; and irritability. Neurofeedback therapy offers significant improvement in these symptoms. Dr. Rubard Bruner reported in a paper presented at the National Head Injury Foundation that neurofeedback therapy patients exhibited dramatic improvement, including a return to premorbid work or career.
DEPRESSION: Estimates suggest that approximately 14% of the general population will experience at least one clinically significant episode of depression, the most common of all psychiatric disorders, at some point in their lives. Research reports that people with depression and people who react more to negative emotional stimulation display greater brain activity in the right frontal area than the left frontal area.
We can treat depression with neurofeedback, avoiding the side affects of medication. We also use our holistic, cognitive-behavioral, integrated treatment approach which allows people to either avoid the use of antidepressants or reduce reliance upon medication.
DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS: We have used neurofeedback for significant success in treating dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.
A 1991 Peniston & Kulkosky study added 30 minutes of alpha-theta neurofeedback to traditional treatment for one group of Vietnam combat veterans. The 30-month follow-up reported that all 14 traditional treatment clients experienced relapse and rehospitalization compared to 3 of the 15 neurofeedback clients. Alpha-theta neurofeedback training seemed to provide self-management skills similar to self-hypnotic or meditation skills that profoundly helped these clients.
Tom and Linda Brownback were among the first in the country to combine the traditional psychotherapeutic techniques used to treat dissociative disorders with cognitive-behavior therapy. Consequently, clients seldom need hospitalization. In addition, clients with a dissociative disorder may incorporate neurofeedback into their treatment programs to speed the healing process and decrease memory intrusion into daily living.
HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM (HFA) AND ASPERGER’S SYNDROME: These two disorders share many behavioral characteristics, although professionals disagree whether they are the same or whether Aspergers is a nonverbal learning disability. Common characteristics include normal intelligence, language development with marked deficiencies in social and communication skills, obsessive routines, preoccupation with a specific area of interest, and difficulty with change. These clients often display hard-to-read body language and an oversensitivity to sounds, smells, tastes, and sights.
Our successful treatment approach includes neurofeedback, coping strategies, family therapy, and holistic interventions.
IMPULSE CONTROL DISORDERS: The brain’s frontal lobes regulate attention and expression of emotion and body movement. A tendency toward impulsive behavior results from insufficient activity, especially in the right frontal lobe, or from poor pathway connections between the frontal lobe and other brain structures. Impulsive behavior can play a role in disorders such as addictions, ADHD, closed head trauma, and eating disorders.
Neurofeedback can change activity levels of brain areas and/or reestablish the integrity of connections. In addition, cognitive-behavioral therapy and heart rate variability biofeedback can help impulse control disorders.
INSOMNIA: Two aspects of this troubling problem—the inability to fall asleep (sleep-onset insomnia) and the inability to stay asleep (wakefulness)—plague insomnia sufferers. Many holistic and cognitive-behavioral techniques can successfully end such sleep disorders. For more severe, long-term sleep difficulties, clients can learn to quiet the “noisy mind” through neurofeedback. Enhanced alpha training successfully improves sleep-onset insomnia while low beta neurofeedback on the brain’s sensory motor strip better treats wakefulness.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER: The inability to stop a thought or behavior characterizes Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Previously conceptualized as psychological in nature, experts now believe this disorder has a neurological basis. Data from neuropsychological, electrophysiological, and other imaging methods strongly supports this conclusion. Quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) results further suggest that two physiologic subtypes of the disorder exist, with different brainwave frequency patterns, but displaying the same symptoms.
We offer a number of successful approaches to OCD treatment: neurofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy and heart rate variability biofeedback. To learn more, go to www.brainphysics.com.
OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER: Until recently, this disorder was considered to result from a mismatch between parenting style and the child’s personality. While family dynamics do play a role in ODD, there is a growing recognition of a biological component to the disorder: the same brain mechanism involved in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can be involved in ODD. Therefore, our office offers a multimodal approach that can include family therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and neurofeedback.
