1-year follow-up of neurofeedback treatment in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: randomised controlled trial

Marleen Bink; Ilja L Bongers; Arne Popma; Tieme W P Janssen; Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.000166

1-year follow-up of neurofeedback treatment in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: randomised controlled trial

BJPsych Open. 2016 Mar 2;2(2):107-115. doi: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.000166. eCollection 2016 Mar.

Authors

Marleen Bink¹, Ilja L Bongers², Arne Popma³, Tieme W P Janssen⁴, Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen⁵

Affiliations

¹ , PhD, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam; Scientific Center for Care & Welfare (Tranzo), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
² , PhD, GGzECenter for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Eindhoven; Scientific Center for Care & Welfare (Tranzo), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
³ , MD, PhD, Academic Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, VUmc/De Bascule, Duivendrecht, The Netherlands.
⁴ , MSc, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁵ , PhD, Scientific Center for Care & Welfare (Tranzo), Tilburg University, Tilburg; GGzECenter for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Estimates of the effectiveness of neurofeedback as a treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are mixed.

Aims: To investigate the long-term additional effects of neurofeedback (NFB) compared with treatment as usual (TAU) for adolescents with ADHD.

Method: Using a multicentre parallel-randomised controlled trial design, 60 adolescents with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ADHD receiving NFB+TAU (n=41) or TAU (n=19) were followed up. Neurofeedback treatment consisted of approximately 37 sessions of theta/sensorimotor rhythm (SMR)-training on the vertex (Cz). Outcome measures included behavioural self-reports and neurocognitive measures. Allocation to the conditions was unmasked.

Results: At 1-year follow-up, inattention as reported by adolescents was decreased (range η_p²=0.23-0.36, P<0.01) and performance on neurocognitive tasks was faster (range η_p²=0.20-0.67, P<0.005) irrespective of treatment group.

Conclusions: Overall, NFB+TAU was as effective as TAU. Given the absence of robust additional effects of neurofeedback in the current study, results do not support the use of theta/SMR neurofeedback as a treatment for adolescents with ADHD and comorbid disorders in clinical practice.

Declaration of interest: None.

Copyright and usage: © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) licence.