| Recently, a parent asked me the following | | | | for ADHD as well as a number of other |
| question | | | | conditions. |
| I visited your web site and noticed a section called | | | | It's true that the research does not rule out other |
| How to Read a Scientific Article. I was quite | | | | possible explanations for the effectiveness of |
| impressed with this article. | | | | neurofeedback in ADHD. Researchers have not |
| This special report on your web site is vitally | | | | yet proven that the placebo effect is causing the |
| important for treatment providers and treatment | | | | results. No one has proven that it is not the extra |
| seekers. It is important for all of us who value | | | | therapeutic interaction. |
| the use of the scientific method in making | | | | However, in my opinion, these other explanations |
| decisions about what kinds of services to seek | | | | are not very likely. We do not see any other |
| and what kinds of services to provide. | | | | placebo getting the results that Neurofeedback |
| What you mention in that article can serve as | | | | gets. Nor do we see intense therapeutic attention |
| reminder to what many of us learned as | | | | in other settings delivering such results. |
| undergraduates and graduate students in science | | | | To the best of my knowledge, there has never |
| based programs. It can serve as a simplified and | | | | been a study that shows or even suggests that it |
| easy to remember scientifically based evaluation | | | | Neurofeedback does not work. The worst |
| tool to help sort out the different types of | | | | complaint the antagonists can level is that it has |
| interventions. | | | | not yet been proven to work. |
| Within the context of that special report on your | | | | It is true that the studies on Neurofeedback have |
| web site about learning to evaluate and to | | | | not proven that it works. I want to stress, |
| interpret what is true and expose what is hype, | | | | however, that not proven does not mean |
| how would you rate the evidence presented for | | | | disproved. |
| Neurofeedback compared to other types of | | | | Although in the pure scientific sense there is |
| interventions?" | | | | something lacking from the Neurofeedback |
| Here is my reply: | | | | literature, we are dealing with patients' lives. |
| I am glad you enjoyed How to Read a Scientific | | | | It is not fair to our patients not to use what is |
| Article. Please, download it and give it out to your | | | | most probably a very effective treatment |
| friends and colleagues. | | | | modality just because we would like more elegant |
| As for your question about Neurofeedback: | | | | research. With that in mind we have to evaluate |
| There are many leading ADHD researchers who | | | | neurofeedback based upon the evidence that is in |
| come out very strongly against Neurofeedback as | | | | front of us. |
| a treatment for ADHD. Their main complaint | | | | I agree that neurofeedback needs more scientific |
| against Neurofeedback is that the research is not | | | | work to be proven an effective modality. |
| well done. | | | | However, as a clinician I feel that I have all the |
| There are numerous studies available, but they all | | | | evidence that I need in order to advise patients |
| have weaknesses. Most studies lack the proper | | | | to use it. |
| controls to prove that Neurofeedback works. In | | | | I still have a lot of questions about it. It is not |
| many studies, Neurofeedback was used in | | | | really clear to me how effective it is. What |
| conjunction with other modalities, so it isn't clear | | | | percentage of patients fail? What percentage |
| why the children in these studies got better. | | | | achieves only partial success? I have heard claims |
| So scientifically, I would have to conclude that | | | | of success ranging in the 95+%. I don't know |
| Neurofeedback has not been proven to be an | | | | how accurate these claims really are. |
| effective treatment for ADHD. | | | | I personally don't have enough information to |
| Thank God, I am a clinician and not a scientist! | | | | discern between the effectiveness of different |
| In my opinion, based upon the evidence that we | | | | neurofeedback techniques. I would like to see |
| have available, Neurofeedback works very well | | | | more research in these areas. |