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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Study protocol

Neurofeedback in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a controlled multicenter study of a non-pharmacological treatment approach

Authors: Martin Holtmann, Benjamin Pniewski, Daniel Wachtlin, Sonja Wörz, Ute Strehl

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood and has often a chronic course persisting into adulthood. However, up to 30% of children treated with stimulants either fail to show an improvement or suffer adverse side effects, including decreased appetite, insomnia and irritability and there is no evidence of long term efficacy of stimulants for ADHD. A series of studies has shown that neurofeedback is an effective additional or alternative treatment for children with ADHD, leading to e.g. significant and stable improvement in behavior, attention and IQ. Significant treatment effects of neurofeedback have also been verified in meta-analyses. Most of the trials, however, have been criticized for methodological difficulties, particularly lacking appropriate control conditions and number of patients included. This randomized study examines the efficacy of slow cortical potentials (SCP) -neurofeedback, controlling unspecific effects of the setting by comparing two active treatment modalities.

Methods/Design

A total of 144 patients with ADHD, older than six and younger than ten years, in some cases with additional pharmacological treatment, are included in this trial. In five trial centres patients are treated either with SCP-feedback or electromyographic (EMG) -feedback in 25 sessions within 3 months. A comprehensive test battery is conducted before and after treatment and at follow-up 6 month later, to assess core symptoms of ADHD, general psychopathology, attentional performance, comorbid symptoms, intelligence, quality of life and cortical arousal.

Discussion

The efficacy of SCP-feedback training for children with ADHD is evaluated in this randomized controlled study. In addition to behavior ratings and psychometric tests neurophysiological parameters serve as dependent variables. Further, the choice of EMG-biofeedback as an active control condition is debated.

Trials registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN76187185. Registered 5 February 2009.

Available only for authorised users

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/14/202/prepub

Title: Neurofeedback in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a controlled multicenter study of a non-pharmacological treatment approach
Authors: Martin Holtmann
Benjamin Pniewski
Daniel Wachtlin
Sonja Wörz
Ute Strehl
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-202

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Neurofeedback in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a controlled multicenter study of a non-pharmacological treatment approach

Abstract

Background

Methods/Design

Discussion

Trials registration

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods/Design

Discussion

Trials registration

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