The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 204(2):69–77, FEBRUARY 2016
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000418
,
PMID: 26825263
Issn Print: 0022-3018
Publication Date: February 2016
Neurofeedback Treatment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Effectiveness of Neurofeedback on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Optimal Choice of Protocol
Karen Reiter;Søren Andersen;Jessica Carlsson;
+ Author Information
*Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark, Ballerup; †Psychiatric Centre Hvidovre, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark, Brøndby; ‡Research and Knowledge Centre, The Danish Veteran Centre, Ringsted; and §University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
Neurofeedback is an alternative, noninvasive approach used in the treatment of a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many different neurofeedback protocols and methods exist. Likewise, PTSD is a heterogeneous disorder. To review the evidence on effectiveness and preferred protocol when using neurofeedback treatment on PTSD, a systematic search of PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase, and Cochrane databases was undertaken. Five studies were included in this review. Neurofeedback had a statistically significant effect in three studies. Neurobiological changes were reported in three studies. Interpretation of results is, however, limited by differences between the studies and several issues regarding design. The optimistic results presented here qualify neurofeedback as probably efficacious for PTSD treatment.
