1 National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
2 Department of Psychology, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Clin EEG Neurosci. 2019 Jul;50(4):242-255. doi: 10.1177/1550059418813034. Epub 2018 Nov 20.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent childhood disorder with symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. EEG neurofeedback training (NFT) is a new intervention modality based on operant conditioning of brain activity, which helps reduce symptoms of ADHD in children.
To examine the efficacy of NFT in children with ADHD, an experimental longitudinal design with pre-post comparison was adopted. A total of 30 children in the age range of 6 to 12 years diagnosed as ADHD with or without comorbid conditions were assigned to treatment group (TG; n = 15) and treatment as usual group (TAU; n = 15). TG received EEG-NFT along with routine clinical management and TAU received routine clinical management alone. Forty sessions of theta/beta NFT at the C3 scalp location, 3 to 4 sessions in a week for a period of 3.5 to 5 months were given to children in TG. Children were screened using sociodemographic data and Binet-Kamat test of intelligence. Pre-and postassessment tools were neuropsychological tests and behavioral scales. Follow-up was carried out on 8 children in TG using parent-rated behavioral measures.
Improvement was reported in TG on cognitive functions (sustained attention, verbal working memory, and response inhibition), parent- and teacher-rated behavior problems and on academic performance rated by teachers. Follow-up of children who received NFT showed sustained improvement in ADHD symptoms when assessed 6 months after receiving NFT.
The present study suggests that NFT is an effective method to enhance cognitive deficits and helps reduce ADHD symptoms and behavior problems. Consequently, academic performance was found to be improved in children with ADHD. Improvement in ADHD symptoms induced by NFT were maintained at 6-month follow-up in children with ADHD.
注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）是一种常见的儿童疾病，其症状包括注意力不集中、冲动和多动。脑电神经反馈训练（NFT）是一种基于大脑活动操作性条件反射的新干预模式，有助于减轻儿童 ADHD 的症状。
为了检验 NFT 在 ADHD 儿童中的疗效，采用了实验性纵向设计，包括前后比较。共有 30 名年龄在 6 至 12 岁之间、被诊断为 ADHD 且伴有或不伴有共病的儿童被分配到治疗组（TG；n = 15）和常规治疗组（TAU；n = 15）。TG 接受 EEG-NFT 治疗和常规临床管理，而 TAU 仅接受常规临床管理。TG 组的儿童在 C3 头皮位置接受 40 次θ/β NFT，每周 3 至 4 次，持续 3.5 至 5 个月。对儿童进行了社会人口统计学数据和比奈-卡马测验的智力筛查。使用神经心理学测试和行为量表进行了前后评估。对 TG 中的 8 名儿童进行了随访，使用家长评定的行为措施。
TG 组在认知功能（持续注意力、言语工作记忆和反应抑制）、家长和教师评定的行为问题以及教师评定的学业成绩方面均有改善。接受 NFT 的儿童的随访结果显示，在接受 NFT 后 6 个月，ADHD 症状持续改善。
本研究表明，NFT 是一种增强认知缺陷的有效方法，有助于减轻 ADHD 症状和行为问题。因此，ADHD 儿童的学业成绩有所提高。在 ADHD 儿童中，NFT 引起的 ADHD 症状改善在 6 个月随访时得以维持。
