Study on the Combined Use of ILF Neurofeedback and trauma psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The study "Case Report: Infra-Low-Frequency Neurofeedback for PTSD: A Therapist's Perspective"
by Spreyermann (2022) shows how a combined therapy of trauma psychotherapy and Neurofeedback, specifically ILF Neurofeedback and alpha-theta training, can be used with patients diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). Two case studies are presented as well as an overall assessment of clinical outcomes over the past 7 years.
The study appeared in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, May 2022.
Citation: Spreyermann R (2022) Case Report: Infra-Low-Frequency Neurofeedback for PTSD: A Therapist's Perspective. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 16:893830. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.893830 PDF
Neurofeedback and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
One speaks of a complex post-traumatic stress disorder if the persistent PTSD symptoms, such as hyperarousal, sleep disorders, panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks, muscle tension, fatigue, lack of concentration, emotional instability and depressive symptoms have additionally led to personality changes and emotional dysregulation according to the criteria of the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (World Health Organization, 2022). Patients may receive Neurofeedback as an additive to their regular psychotherapeutic therapy if psychotherapeutic treatment has resulted in insufficient improvements in trauma-specific symptoms (van der Kolk et al., 2016). According to the guidelines of the German Society for Psychotraumatology, the indications for combined therapy include the symptomatic persistence of an overstimulated state, which can manifest itself, for example, in the form of anxiety and sleep disorders, despite trauma-focused psychotherapy and supportive medication. Another indication, which suggests a therapy with Neurofeedback, is the persistence of dissociative symptoms, in which the patients have an impaired perception of themselves as well as of their environment.
Case reports
The process of combined therapy is described and illustrated in this study using two representative case reports. Case 1 is about a 40-year-old woman suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Neurofeedback therapy was recommended due to residual symptoms after approximately 10 years of psychotrauma therapy. Over the course of 47 neurofeedback sessions, a decrease in symptom severity to below 30% of baseline was noted.
Case 2 discusses the history of a 35-year-old woman with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Over the 4.5 years she was treated with Neurofeedback in combination with psychotherapy, a steady and very positive progression was noted. Among other things, she was able to reduce her extensive psychiatric medication as well as significantly improve her sleep quality.
Overall assessment of clinical outcomes
According to a qualitative assessment in the present study, the combination of trauma-based psychotherapy and ILF neurofeedback over the past 7 years has led to surprising and motivating results. In only 2 of the 80 patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, no improvement was observed with combined therapy and neurofeedback. 15% of the patients dropped out of the study prematurely, so that no valid statements can be made in this regard. In the remaining patients, an improvement in symptom burden of 60-90% on average was observed.
The study results suggest promising findings for patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. As you can see from the full text, the case reports cited show that people who have suffered greatly and have not been able to lead a regular life have been able to get back to their lives with the help of combined neurofeedback therapy.
Read the entire study here.
References
Spreyermann, R. (2022): Case report: infra-low frequency neurofeedback for PTSD: A therapist's perspective. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 16: 893830. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.893830.
van der Kolk, B. A., Hodgon, H., Gapen, M., Musicaro, R., Suvak, M. K., Hamlin, E., et al., (2016). A randomizes controlled study of neurofeedback for chronic PTSD. Randomized Controlled Trial>PLoS. 11, e01166752. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166752