Efficacy of Eeg Neurofeedback Training on Depression: A Clinical Study

Depression is one of the most prevalent mood disorders, which also causes significant disruptions in the socio-occupational life of an individual. It is characterized by diverse symptoms including sad mood, loss of interest, and unhappiness, and shows high co morbidity with other brain dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of EEG neurofeedback training (NFT) on depressive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate depression. An experimental pre post randomized control group design has been used. A sample of 10 patients with mild to moderate depression was taken purposively and assigned to a treatment group (TG) and treatment as usual group (TAU). Patients in the treatment group has received 20 sessions of NFT at the Occipital 1 and 2 scalp locations at a frequency of 3 days a week along with pharmacotherapy. Patients in the treatment as usual group received only pharmacotherapy. Clinical changes were documented on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale. Results indicated that there was a significant improvement in depressive symptoms both in TG and TAU; however the extend of improvement was double in TG, which could be attributed to NFT.