Attention deficit disorder Tag

Neurofeedback- An Evidence-Based Scientific Approach to Mental Health

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, evidence- based psychotherapy that allows patients to train their own brains to improve various conditions. Evidence- based psychotherapy or medicine is defined by the NIH (National Institute of Health) as follows:

“Evidence based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious, explicit, judicious and reasonable use of modern, best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. EBM integrates clinical experience and patient values with the best available research information.” (1)

Neurofeedback uses qEEG technology (brain mapping) to measure a patient’s brain waves in different areas of the brain, and then engages them in dynamic brain training to normalize these levels. As levels of brainwaves (alpha, beta, delta, etc) become balanced, improvements in function are noted in corresponding areas of the brain or body .

Ongoing research with neurofeedback on individual neurological disorders such as ADD or traumatic brain injury (TBI) has helped specialists identify with great accuracy patterns of brain dysfunction, and researchers have used this much larger pool of data to develop specific neurofeedback protocols to treat each individual neurological condition.

During a neurofeedback session, patients play simple games that allow them to track changes in their own brain wave patterns through visual feedback. Using this newly learned skill, neurofeedback patients can learn to adjust brain wave patterns to optimal levels.

It is a skill the patient learns intuitively through trial and error, using the visual feedback as a guide. As patients improve their ability to self- regulate,  neurological disorders can be corrected or at least greatly improved.