Efficacy of Neurofeedback Training in Adults With ADHD

University Hospital Tuebingen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Neurofeedback active; Behavioral: Metacognitive Training; Behavioral: Neurofeedback sham

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01883765

SCHO 1448/2-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Neurofeedback training (NFT) has been frequently investigated as an alternative treatment for ADHD mainly in children and adolescents. However, randomized double-blind trials that include a sham-neurofeedback control group are lacking, as well as studies examining the efficacy of NFT in adult ADHD populations. The inclusion of a sham-neurofeedback group is crucial to monitor and exclude unspecific effects.

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of NFT as compared to a sham-feedback condition and a cognitive behavioral treatment in adults with persistent ADHD.

Efficacy is assessed on several outcome parameters, such as symptom severity, neuropsychological variables (e.g., attention, memory), and EEG parameters.

Enrollment: 118 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• ADHD diagnosis
• sufficient knowledge of the German language

Exclusion criteria

• psychiatric disorder(s) lifetime (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder)
• neurological disorder (e.g., epilepsy)
• current substance abuse disorder
• receives psychotherapy (e.g., CBT) or medication

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

---

118 participants in 3 patient groups

Neurofeedback active

Experimental group

Description:

Active neurofeedback training, theta/beta-protocol

Treatment:

Behavioral: Neurofeedback active

Neurofeedback sham

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Neurofeedback training is simulated to subjects in this condition

Treatment:

Behavioral: Neurofeedback sham

Behavioral: Neurofeedback active

Metacognitive Training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Metacognitive training, cognitive behavioral therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Metacognitive Training