Editorial: The Complexity of Neurofeedback and Control of Placebo Effects

Pascal-M Aggensteiner

doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2021.05.008

Editorial: The Complexity of Neurofeedback and Control of Placebo Effects

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Jul;60(7):811-812. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.05.008. Epub 2021 May 25.

Author

Pascal-M Aggensteiner¹

Affiliation

¹ Dr. Aggensteiner is with the Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. Electronic address: Pascal.Aggensteiner@zi-mannheim.de.

PMID: 34048885
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.05.008

Abstract

The Neurofeedback Collaborative Group¹ made substantial efforts in assessing clinical effects of neurofeedback (NF) as a promising nonpharmacological treatment option for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT), they evaluated the specific effects of a standard NF protocol (theta/beta ratio [TBR] training) compared to a placebo-like control group. Similar to pharmacological studies, the placebo-like intervention can be considered as a gold standard, as it allows evaluation of specific effects of NF training.

Publication types

Editorial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Comment

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / therapy
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Neurofeedback*
Placebo Effect