Neurofeedback training in children with ADHD: 6-month follow-up of a randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Neurofeedback (NF) could help to improve attentional and self-management capabilities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a randomised controlled trial, NF training was found to be superior to a computerised attention skills training (AST) (Gevensleben et al. in J Child Psychol Psychiatry 50(7):780-789, 2009). In the present paper, treatment effects at 6-month follow-up were studied. 94 children with ADHD, aged 8-12 years, completed either 36 sessions of NF training (n = 59) or a computerised AST (n = 35). Pre-training, post-training and follow-up assessment encompassed several behaviour rating scales (e.g., the German ADHD rating scale, FBB-HKS) completed by parents. Follow-up information was analysed in 61 children (ca. 65%) on a per-protocol basis. 17 children (of 33 dropouts) had started a medication after the end of the training or early in the follow-up period. Improvements in the NF group (n = 38) at follow-up were superior to those of the control group (n = 23) and comparable to the effects at the end of the training. For the FBB-HKS total score (primary outcome measure), a medium effect size of 0.71 was obtained at follow-up. A reduction of at least 25% in the primary outcome measure (responder criterion) was observed in 50% of the children in the NF group. In conclusion, behavioural improvements induced by NF training in children with ADHD were maintained at a 6-month follow-up. Though treatment effects appear to be limited, the results confirm the notion that NF is a clinically efficacious module in the treatment of children with ADHD.
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Unlike psychostimulant treatment, NF effects seem stable and longer-lasting (up to 2 years), with no side effects.
“Interestingly, however, unlike psychostimulant treatment, NF effects seem stable and longer-lasting (up to 2 years), with no side effects (Gevensleben et al., 2010; Arns et al., 2014).”
From Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Its Clinical Translation (2018) · cites this paper as Gevensleben et al., 2010
The Discussion reports that neurofeedback improvements in children with ADHD were sustained at this trial’s 6-month follow-up; the Introduction also reports a separate, uncontrolled 2-year follow-up with stable or enhanced effects. This trial did not compare the durability of neurofeedback with psychostimulant treatment, and the passages found do not establish that neurofeedback has no side effects. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Gevensleben, H., Holl, B., Albrecht, B., Schlamp, D., Kratz, O., Studer, P., Rothenberger, A., Moll, G. H., & Heinrich, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Göttingen (DE)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Heinrich, Hartmut
- Venue
- European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Published
- 2010-05-25
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 715-724
- ISSN
- 1018-8827 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-165X
- PMC
- PMC3128749
- OpenAlex
- W2062063587
- Cited by
- 217
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 15.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences) (submittedVersion)
- GoeScholar The Publication Server of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- GRO (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- neurofeedback, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children, treatment effects, follow-up, self-management, attention, medication use
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Care, Treatment Outcome, Neurofeedback
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