The Analysis of Electroencephalography Changes Before and After a Single Neurofeedback Alpha/Theta Training Session in University Students.

The underlying mechanisms of alpha/theta neurofeedback training have not been fully determined. Therefore, this study aimed to test the changes in the brain state feedback during the alpha/theta training. Twenty-seven healthy participants were trained during a single session of the alpha/theta protocol, and the resting quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) was assessed before and after training. QEEG was recorded at eight scalp locations (F3, F4, C3, C4, T3, T4, O1, and O2), and the absolute power, relative power, ratio of sensory-motor rhythm beta (SMR) to theta (RST), ratio of SMR-mid beta to theta (RSMT), ratio of mid beta to theta (RMT), ratio of alpha to high beta (RAHB), and scaling exponent of detrended fluctuation analysis by each band were measured. The results indicated a significant increase of absolute alpha power, especially the slow alpha band, at all electrodes except T3 and T4. Moreover, the relative alpha power, especially the slow alpha band, showed a significant increase at all electrodes. The relative theta power showed a significant decrease at all electrodes, except T3. A significant decrease in relative beta power, relative lower beta power and relative mid beta power was observed at O1. RST (at C4, O1, and O2), RSMT and RMT (at F4, C4, O1 and O2), and RAHB (at all electrodes) showed significant increase. Scaling exponents at all electrodes except T3 showed a significant decrease. These findings indicate that a one-time session of alpha/theta training might have the possibility to enhance both vigilance and concentration, thus stabilizing the overall brain function.

Effects of neurofeedback on adult patients with psychiatric disorders in a naturalistic setting.

Few well-controlled studies have considered neurofeedback treatment in adult psychiatric patients. In this regard, the present study investigates the characteristics and effects of neurofeedback on adult psychiatric patients in a naturalistic setting. A total of 77 adult patients with psychiatric disorders participated in this study. Demographic data and neurofeedback states were retrospectively analyzed, and the effects of neurofeedback were evaluated using clinical global impression (CGI) and subjective self-rating scales. Depressive disorders were the most common psychiatric disorders (19; 24.7 %), followed by anxiety disorders (18; 23.4 %). A total of 69 patients (89.6 %) took medicine, and the average frequency of neurofeedback was 17.39 ± 16.64. Neurofeedback was applied to a total of 39 patients (50.6 %) more than 10 times, and 48 patients (62.3 %) received both ß/SMR and α/θ training. The discontinuation rate was 33.8 % (26 patients). There was significant difference between pretreatment and posttreatment CGI scores (<.001), and the self-rating scale also showed significant differences in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and inattention (<.001). This is a naturalistic study in a clinical setting, and has several limitations, including the absence of a control group and a heterogenous sample. Despite these limitations, the study demonstrates the potential of neurofeedback as an effective complimentary treatment for adult patients with psychiatric disorders.

Effectiveness of Duloxetine Monotherapy Compared to Combination Therapy with Other Antidepressants in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Short-Term, Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare duloxetine monotherapy to combination therapy with other antidepressants in patients with major depressive disorder in a clinical, real world setting. METHODS: An eight-week, retrospective, multi-center study of outpatients with major depressive disorder was undertaken. After screening 415 patients, enrolled in this study from July 2009 to June 2014 were 82 patients from among three centers who had been taking duloxetine with or without other antidepressant and not administered with atypical antipsychotics. We compared the mean changes of the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) as a primary measure and the discontinuation rate as a secondary measure between the duloxetine monotherapy group (n=36, 43.9%) and the combination therapy with other antidepressants group (n=46, 56.1%) at baseline, one, two, four and eight weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences across the demographic characteristics between two groups. There was, however, a statistically greater improvement on the CGI-S at weeks 2, 4 and 8 in the combination group compared with the monotherapy group. There were no significant differences in discontinuation rate and adverse events between two groups. No serious adverse events were reported in both groups during the study period. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the duloxetine combination therapy with other antidepressants could improve effectiveness and have comparable tolerability with the monotherapy in the treatment of outpatients with major depressive disorders in a naturalistic setting. Adequately powered, well-controlled clinical trials are strongly warranted to confirm our findings due to methodological shortcomings.