Neurofeedback and Schizophrenia

A case study was done looking at neurofeedback and how that could potentially help people dealing with schizophrenia. Neurofeedback is where you look at your brainwaves in real time. Giving specific information on the ambiguity or dysregulation of your brainwaves.When you look at the functions of the brain in real time, then show the person the information, you can see progress over time. And when you get rewarded for changing your own patterns then your behavior can improve. It helps the brain to function more effectively. A woman with schizophrenia was asked to do some training with neurofeedback to look at the effects of neurofeedback and if it improved any of her behaviors or symptoms. She had been suffering from schizophrenia for over seven years. She needed 24/7 at home care because she wasn’t able to fully take care of herself. She did not have any improvements in behavior when on medication and therapy.  Therefore neurofeedback was recommended. The training consisted of getting used to the neurofeedback program and doing mental activities. There were short term memory tests as well. After the study was done there was a drastic improvement in short term memory, mood, behavior, and speech. There was also a follow up 22 months after the study was done and the woman was then considered capable of being alone and didn’t need the 24 hour care anymore. Based on this case study neurofeedback had a positive impact on symptoms of schizophrenia.

Sources

Nan, W., Wan, F., Chang, L., Pun, S. H., Vai, M. I., & Rosa, A. (2017). An Exploratory Study of Intensive Neurofeedback Training for Schizophrenia. Behavioural Neurology,2017, 1-6. doi:10.1155/2017/6914216

What Is Neurofeedback? (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2018, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-resilient-brain/201410/what-is-neurofeedback

Neurofeedback: Training the brain to self-regulate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2018, from http://www.choratech.com/solutions/neurofeedback