treatment frequency
treatment frequency is a specialized approach in our brain training toolkit. Peak Brain Institute applies treatment frequency as part of comprehensive, QEEG-guided protocols tailored to each client's brain patterns and goals. Explore our 2 research papers covering this topic.
Research Papers
EEG Neurofeedback for ADHD: Double-Blind Sham-Controlled Randomized Pilot Feasibility Trial
Objective: Preparing for a definitive randomized clinical trial (RCT) of neurofeedback (NF) for ADHD, this pilot trial explored feasibility of a double-blind, sham-controlled design and adherence/palatability/relative effect of two versus three treatments/week. Method: Unmedicated 6- to 12-year-olds with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) ADHD were randomized to active NF versus sham-NF and to 2X versus 3X/week treatment frequency. Frequency switch was allowed after Treatment 24. Results: In two school years, 39 participants were recruited and 34 (87%) completed all 40 treatments. Child/parent guesses about assigned treatment were no better than chance. At Treatment 24, 38% chose 2X/week and 62% chose 3X/week. Both active NF and sham yielded large pre–post improvement on parent ratings but NF no more than sham. Conclusion: Blinding appears to work, and sham does not prevent recruitment/retention. Treatment frequency of 3X/week seems preferred over 2X/week and was as effective. A large double-blind RCT is feasible and necessary to test specific NF effectiveness.
View Full Paper →QEEG-Based Protocol Selection: A Study of Level of Agreement on Sites, Sequences, and Rationales Among a Group of Experienced QEEG-Based Neurofeedback Practitioners
Background. The history of neurofeedback is marked by a diversity of theoretical bases and specific protocol development approaches, including standard protocols based on research, symptom/neurophysiological function-based approaches, and approaches based on quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) assessment (Budzynski, 1999; Demos, 2005). Although this diversity of approaches currently characterizes clinical practice within the field, one might assume that a certain degree of uniformity exists among practitioners who follow one particular treatment model. That is, clinicians who follow a symptom/function-based approach might be expected to select similar protocols for a given client, and practitioners who base their protocols largely on QEEG likewise would develop similar protocols for the same client. Method. To test this latter assumption, 13 neurofeedback practitioners having 5 to 20 years of experience using QEEG and neurofeedback were sent the same QEEG data and presenting problems of a female adult who had previously sought neurofeedback treatment. The participant's data were edited in both NeuroReport and NeuroGuide, and both edits were provided to the survey participants. The practitioners were asked to provide treatment protocols covering sites, frequencies, sequences, and so on, as well as rationales that supported their protocol selections. Results. Ten of the 13 professionals contacted responded to the survey. Respondents were in general agreement as to which sites and frequencies to treat. However, they diverged in their sequencing of treatment sites; in whether to inhibit, reinforce, or both; in cautioning about reference contamination in the QEEG record; and in their theoretical rationales for their protocol selections. Conclusions. Although further research will have to document the efficacy of the various protocols recommended by the experienced QEEG-based practitioners surveyed for this study, it can be assumed that these practitioners are finding some consistent success using them in their practices. Therefore, the primary implication of this study appears to be that as long as appropriate treatment sites and frequencies are addressed for a given client, competently applied neurofeedback seems to be robust enough to tolerate a relatively wide diversity in specific protocol configurations.
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