EEG neurofeedback treatments in children with ADHD: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Front. Hum. Neurosci.. 2014-11-13; 8:
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00906
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1. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Nov 13;8:906. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00906. eCollection
2014.
EEG neurofeedback treatments in children with ADHD: an updated meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials.
Micoulaud-Franchi JA(1), Geoffroy PA(2), Fond G(3), Lopez R(4), Bioulac S(5),
Philip P(6).
Author information:
(1)Solaris, Unité de Neurophysiologie, Pôle de Psychiatrie Universitaire, Hôpital
Sainte-Marguerite Marseille, France ; Institut de Neurosciences Cognitives de la
Méditerranée, INCM-CNRS UMR 6193 Marseille, France.
(2)Inserm, UMR-S 1144 Paris, France ; AP-HP, GH Saint-Louis – Lariboisière –
Fernand Widal, Pôle Neurosciences Paris, France ; UMR-S 1144, Université Paris
Descartes and Université Paris Diderot Paris, France ; Fondation FondaMental
Créteil, France.
(3)Fondation FondaMental Créteil, France ; Université Paris Est-Créteil, Pôle de
Psychiatrie du Groupe des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Mondor, DHU Pe-psy, INSERM
U955, Eq Psychiatrie Génétique, Réseau des Centres Experts Schizophrénie de
France Créteil, France.
(4)Centre de Référence National Narcolepsie-hypersomnie Idiopathique, Unité des
Troubles du Sommeil, CHU Gui de Chauliac Montpellier, France ; NSERM U1061
Montpellier, France.
(5)Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de
l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent Bordeaux, France ; USR CNRS 3413 SANPSY, Clinique du
Sommeil, CHU Pellegrin, Université de Bordeaux Bordeaux, France.
(6)USR CNRS 3413 SANPSY, Clinique du Sommeil, CHU Pellegrin, Université de
Bordeaux Bordeaux, France.
OBJECTIVE: We undertook a meta-analysis of published Randomized Controlled Trials
(RCT) with semi-active control and sham-NF groups to determine whether
Electroencephalogram-neurofeedback (EEG-NF) significantly improves the overall
symptoms, inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity dimensions for probably
unblinded assessment (parent assessment) and probably blinded assessment (teacher
assessment) in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
DATA SOURCES: A systematic review identified independent studies that were
eligible for inclusion in a random effects meta-analysis.
DATA EXTRACTION: Effect sizes for ADHD symptoms were expressed as standardized
mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS: Five identified studies met eligibility criteria, 263 patients with ADHD
were included, 146 patients were trained with EEG-NF. On parent assessment
(probably unblinded assessment), the overall ADHD score (SMD = -0.49 [-0.74,
-0.24]), the inattention score (SMD = -0.46 [-0.76, -0.15]) and the
hyperactivity/impulsivity score (SMD = -0.34 [-0.59, -0.09]) were significantly
improved in patients receiving EEG-NF compared to controls. On teacher assessment
(probably blinded assessment), only the inattention score was significantly
improved in patients receiving EEG-NF compared to controls (SMD = -0.30 [-0.58,
-0.03]).
CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis of EEG-NF in children with ADHD highlights
improvement in the inattention dimension of ADHD symptoms. Future investigations
should pay greater attention to adequately blinded studies and EEG-NF protocols
that carefully control the implementation and embedding of training.
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00906
PMCID: PMC4230047
PMID: 25431555