Adding Biofeedback to your Eating Disorders Practice

Not published is a controlled outcome study at a residential treatment center where 120 patients were administered psychological and EEG tests (Smith, Sams, Sherlin, ISNR Annual Conference, 2006). A variety of neurofeedback approaches were added to the standard treatment regimen for 21 anorexic and 54 bulimic patients. All neurofeedback approaches were successful compared to a traditional treatment control group.

Results

-Significant decrease in Beck Depression Inventory-2 scores, neuroticism scores, and all Eating Disorders Inventory-2 scores.

-Significant increase in extroversion scores.

-MMPI-2 changes reveal a reduction in symptoms associated with distress.

-Reduction in dosage of psychiatric medications ranged between 25% and 65%.

-Anorexics gained weight significantly. Bulimics lost 3 lbs/month during treatment.

Follow-up

-63 of the original 75 subjects responded to 6-month follow-up.

-80-100% reduction in depression on Beck Depression Inventory.

-Depression reduction was the key factor in sustained success.

-Weight changes continued in the proper direction. Anorexics gained about 1 lb per week. Overweight bulimics lost about 3 lbs per month.

-65% are doing well in recovery. 80% have had some resurgence of symptoms.

-Maintenance of preferred weight direction was better for anorexics (p>.05) than for bulimics (p>.08), and third for overweight.

-Overall, outcomes for neurofeedback group were twice as strong as the traditional treatment controls.

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