EEG-based neurofeedback as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder

Steingrimsson S, Bilonic G, Ekelund AC, Gondinger J, Larson T, Stadig I, Svensson M, Vukovic IS, Wartenberg C, Wrede N, Bernhardsson S
Record ID 32018011348
English
Authors' objectives: The objective of this Health Technology Assessment (HTA) was to assess whether EEG-based neurofeedback is an effective treatment for patients with PTSD compared with sham neurofeedback, other treatment or no treatment. Measures of self-harm and suicidal thoughts, PTSD symptoms, level of functioning, and health-related quality of life were considered critical outcomes for decision-making. The degree of sick leave, medication use, complications and patients’ experience of the treatment were considered important outcomes.
Authors' results and conclusions: No study evaluated EEG-based neurofeedback versus sham neurofeedback, and hence a placebo effect cannot be excluded. Based on three small RCTs, with several study limitations and imprecision, it is uncertain whether EEG-based neurofeedback compared with no treatment or standard treatment reduces PTSD symptoms post-treatment in adult patients with PTSD (very low certainty of evidence, GRADE ⊕). It is also uncertain whether EEG-based neurofeedback treatment results in any difference in suicidal thoughts, level of functioning, or medication use compared with no or other treatment (very low certainty of evidence, GRADE ⊕). Health-related quality of life, sick leave, and patients’ experience of treatment were not studied in the RCTs, and information on complications was sparse. Equipment costs and training needs for implementation of EEG-based neurofeedback are modest. If it is introduced as additional treatment after failure of currently offered treatment options, additional personnel, treatment rooms, and equipment may be needed. Given the need for treatment options for PTSD, further research on the use of EEG-based neurofeedback for this population is motivated.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2019
URL for published report: https://mellanarkiv-offentlig.vgregion.se/alfresco/s/archive/stream/public/v1/source/available/sofia/su4372-1728378332-346/native/2019_105%20HTA-rapport%20Neurofeedback.pdf
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Full HTA
MeSH Terms
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Neurofeedback
  • Electroencephalography
Contact
Organisation Name: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre
Contact Address: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre, Region Vastra Gotaland, HTA-centrum, Roda Straket 8, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, 413 45 GOTHENBORG, Sweden
Contact Name: hta-centrum@vgregion.se
Contact Email: hta-centrum@vgregion.se
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.