depressive symptoms
Research Papers
Application of functional connectivity neurofeedback in patients with treatment-resistant depression: A preliminary report
Functional connectivity neurofeedback (FCNef) is a technique that modulates synchronous neural activity through training and is being investigated as a potential novel treatment for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). An FCNef protocol, based on the analysis of resting-state functional imaging data from a large cohort of depressed individuals, has been proposed to promote negative functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex (DLPFC-PCC FC). This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and practicality of the protocol in a small sample of TRD patients. Of the six patients recruited, five completed the FCNef sessions. Depression and rumination scores significantly improved post-treatment, however, there were no significant changes in DLPFC-PCC FC. The study demonstrated efficacy of FCNef in ameliorating depressive symptoms, yet, it also indicated that the training itself may be burdensome for depressed patients, as evidenced by participants reporting fatigue (one of whom dropped out). Thus, a more efficient and less burdensome protocol is needed for future investigations and applications.
View Full Paper →Alpha-theta brainwave neurofeedback training: An effective treatment for male and female alcoholics with depressive symptoms
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.
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