Efficacy of neurofeedback as a treatment for executive dysfunction: establishing best practice from clinical evidence

Abstract

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical utility and ecological validity of neurofeedback (NFB) in an Australian sample, effectively contributing to the recognition of NFB as an evidence-based practice. It was anticipated that this study would demonstrate improvements in the core symptoms of executive dysfunction (poor behavioural and metacognitive self-regulation) following NFB intervention. The present study also aimed to investigate the minimum number of neurofeedback training sessions required to demonstrate significant improvements as indicated by client reports and quantitative measures. The secondary aim of the study was to establish the viability of using clinical data for longitudinal studies to investigate the retention of NFB treatment effects. Participants were patients seen at a private clinician’s practice in Toowoomba, Australia. The participant pool consisted of both males and females aged between 6 and 12 years. They were referred to the clinic by their general practitioner or primary caregiver(s) and received treatment on a fee for service basis. The participants were assessed to be demonstrating symptoms of executive dysfunction, predominantly associated with developmental disorders of childhood such as ADHD, PDD, or Anxiety. Some of the participants were on an existing treatment plan of psychostimulant medication while others were seeking psychological intervention as a non-invasive method of treatment. At the time of consultation, the clinician obtained informed consent in writing for data to be de-identified and collated in the event of a future study. All participants engaged in at least one session of neurofeedback training within the past two years. The study is currently in progress.