Alpha-theta brainwave neurofeedback training: an effective treatment for male and female alcoholics with depressive symptoms

J Clin Psychol. 1995 Sep;51(5):685-93. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(199509)51:5<685::aid-jclp2270510514>3.0.co;2-k.

Abstract

This was an experimental study of 14 alcoholic outpatients using the Peniston and Kulkosky (1989, 1991) brainwave treatment protocol for alcohol abuse. After temperature biofeedback pretraining, experimental subjects completed 20 40-minute sessions of alpha-theta brainwave neurofeedback training (BWNT). Experimentally treated alcoholics with depressive syndrome showed sharp reductions in self-assessed depression (Beck's Depression Inventory). On the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-I, the experimental subjects showed significant decreases on the BR scores: schizoid, avoidant, dependent, histrionic, passive-aggression, schizotypal, borderline, anxiety, somatoform, hypomanic, dysthmic, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, psychotic thinking, and psychotic depression. Twenty-one-month follow-up data indicated sustained prevention of relapse in alcoholics who completed BWNT.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / physiopathology
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation*
  • Alpha Rhythm*
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Arousal / physiology
  • Biofeedback, Psychology / physiology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Depression / physiopathology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Depression / rehabilitation*
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / rehabilitation
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Inventory
  • Theta Rhythm*
  • Treatment Outcome