Abstract
Aim of the studyThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the EEG-biofeedback (NF) method in ADHD treatment in each of the three basic DSM-IV-TR clinical types.Subject or material and methods85 patients aged 6 to 14 treated in an outpatient department and a day-care department (S) were qualified for the EEG-biofeedback therapy, whereas the control group consisted of 30 patients (C) who were treated with methylphenidate. For the purposes of evaluating the treatment efficacy, a structured interview on the presence of the ADHD symptoms was conducted. The S group patients participated in 20 NF therapy sessions throughout a six-month period. An analysis of electrophysiological parameters of EEG was additionally performed in group S - Th/SMR and Th/Beta ratios in C3 and C4 channels at three points in time (at the beginning, during the course of and at the end of the EEG-biofeedback therapy).ResultsBoth types of S and C group therapies significantly reduce (p < 0.01) the number of attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsiveness symptoms in subgroups with attention deficit prevalence and mixed type. In all ADHD types, significant decrease in values of the examined Th/SMR and Th/Beta ratios was noted between the sessions 1 and 10.DiscussionThe NF method proved similarly effective as methylphenidate in reducing the number of symptoms, both in the type with prevalence of attention deficit and in the mixed type.ConclusionsThe results of the study are promising, since the EEG-biofeedback therapy was similarly effective as methylphenidate in reducing the aggravation of ADHD symptoms.
Highlights
The prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reaches 3.9–8% in school-age children [1,2,3]
We set out to evaluate the efficacy of NF in ADHD treatment in three basic clinical ADHD types ((1) with the prevalence of attention deficit, (2) with the prevalence of hyperactivity and impulsiveness and (3) mixed type) in comparison to methylphenidate
In all ADHD types a significant decrease in values of the examined theta/sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) and theta/beta ratios was noted between sessions 1 and 10 (10 for each hemisphere), which proves a reduction in theta slow waves activity and an acceleration of the SMR and beta rhythm in every ADHD type
Summary
The prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (the DSM-IV classification criteria) reaches 3.9–8% in school-age children [1,2,3]. A comprehensive treatment of ADHD, in accordance with the standards applicable in Poland, consists in the use of psychoeducation, behavioural therapy, and in the case of their inefficacy – pharmacotherapy. Such treatment is more expensive and is not always sufficient. One of the non-standard, behavioural methods of ADHD treatment is electroencephalogram (EEG)-biofeedback (NF), which has been used for more than a decade in the USA, Great Britain, France and other countries. We set out to evaluate the efficacy of NF in ADHD treatment in three basic clinical ADHD types ((1) with the prevalence of attention deficit, (2) with the prevalence of hyperactivity and impulsiveness and (3) mixed type) in comparison to methylphenidate
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