Lambert-Beaudet F, Journault WG, Rudziavic Provençal A, Bastien CH. Neurofeedback for insomnia: Current state of research.
World J Psychiatry 2021;
11:897-914. [PMID:
34733650 PMCID:
PMC8546766 DOI:
10.5498/wjp.v11.i10.897]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Chronic insomnia affects about 6%-13% of the Canadian population. Although treatments already exist, they each have their own issues. Neurofeedback is a neuromodulation technique that specifically targets abnormal brain activity and is gaining attention as a possible insomnia treatment.
AIM
To review the latest studies pertaining to the use of neurofeedback in the treatment of insomnia.
METHODS
In this non-systematic review, only experimental studies assessing the effects of neurofeedback on patients with insomnia were targeted across four bibliographic databases.
RESULTS
A total of 12 studies were retained. All neurofeedback studies included in this study showed a clear improvement of subjective sleep. However, data concerning objective improvement are contradictory. Most studies regarding surface and z-score neurofeedback show that neurofeedback targeting the sensorimotor rhythm in the sensorimotor cortex may help improve subjective sleep. A placebo effect seems also to be present in some studies. Several limitations were present in each study.
CONCLUSION
While studies concerning neurofeedback as a treatment for insomnia are encouraging, many methodological barriers remain to be resolved to prove its efficacy unequivocally. More studies using robust design parameters, as well as the replication of existing studies, are necessary to support neurofeedback as an effective treatment for insomnia.
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