Neurofeedback and ADHD

Arns et al. (2020). Neurofeedback and Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity‑Disorder (ADHD) in Children: Rating the Evidence and Proposed Guidelines. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.

Van Doren et al. (2018). Sustained effects of neurofeedback in ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis which looks at data from more than 500 children with ADHD from 10 randomised controlled trials, comparing the effects of Neurofeedback with ‘active treatments - including medication - and 'non-active' (no treatment) conditions. To critically interpret the data, researchers with different views on Neurofeedback contributed to this study. They concluded that Neurofeedback had long lasting effects after an average of 6 months, with no ongoing therapy sessions needed after the initial program compared to the group which was still taking medication at follow-up, and at follow-up the effects of neurofeedback were comparable to the effects of medication.

Strehl et al. (2017) Neurofeedback of Slow Cortical Potentials in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivtiy Disorder (ADHD): A Multicenter Randomized Trial Controlling for Unspecific Effects. Frontier in Human Neuroscience, 11.

This is (to-date) the largest multi-center randomised study on SCP Neurofeedback, in 150 children with ADHD. The study confirms the specific efficacy of SCP neurofeedback on the core symptoms of ADHD compared to a semi-active control group. This demonstrates the feasibility and, above all, the efficacy of SCP neurofeedback in children with ADHD, controlling for specific and unspecific effects.

Arns et al. (2009). Efficacy of neurofeedback treatment in ADHD: The effects on inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity: A meta-analysis. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 40(3), 180-9. 

This first meta-analysis on neurofeedback in ADHD demonstrates large effect sizes for the domains of inattention and impulsivity in ADHD. Most of the studies included in this meta-analysis concern ‘standard’ neurofeedback protocols such as Theta/Beta (TBR) or Slow Cortical Potential (SCP) Neurofeedback.

Arns et al. (2014). Evaluation of neurofeedback in ADHD: The long and winding road. Biological Psychology, 95, 108-15.

This review is an update to the above meta-analysis which includes studies published since 2009. Furthermore, this review better contextualises the evaluation of neurofeedback, also discussing differences between various neurofeedback approaches and methodological issues.

Arns et al. (2012). The effects of QEEG-informed neurofeedback in ADHD: An open-label pilot study. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 37(3), 171-80

This paper demonstrates the results of the ‘individualized’ neurofeedback approach – also called QEEG informed neurofeedback – which is employed within neuroCare Clinics / Brainclinics. This manuscript also summarises how personalization of neurofeedback treatment, both within this study and in an earlier study by an independent group, potentially doubles clinical treatment effects.

Mayer, K., & Arns, M. (2016). Electroencephalogram Neurofeedback: Application in ADHD and Epilepsy. Psychiatric Annals, 46(10), 594-600.

This article reviews the evidence for the efficacy of neurofeedback in psychiatric disorders and also discusses the specific neurofeedback protocols that have been found effective in the treatment of ADHD.

Gevensleben et al. (2012). Neurofeedback in children with ADHD: Validation and challenges. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 447-60. doi:10.1586/ern.12.22

This article by Gevensleben and colleagues reviews the efficacy of Neurofeedback in ADHD 

Mayer et al. (2013) One size fits all? Slow Cortical Potentials Neurofeedback: A Review. Journals of Attention Disorders, 17(5), 393 - 409

This is a review of the standardised protocols of Slow Cortical Potentials (SCP) Neurofeedback by Dr. Kerstin Mayer, Dr. Ute Strehl and others.

Cortese et al. (2016) Neurofeedback for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Meta-Analysis of Clinical and neuropsychological outcomes from randomized controlled trials. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

A critical review and meta-analysis by the European ADHD-Guidelines group about neurofeedback in ADHD. This review relied mainly on teacher ratings as more objective indicators for improvement. In consideration of all studies – including some approaches that are known to be ineffective – there were no significant effects based on teacher ratings. However, when limiting the meta-analysis to ‘standard neurofeedback protocols’ as proposed by Arns, Heinrich & Strehl (2014), clinical effects for both parent and teacher rated symptoms were found to be significant, further supporting the neuroCare Group's focus on advocating well-researched neurofeedback protocols such as SCP, TBR and SMR neurofeedback.