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