Cancer patients’ age-related benefits from mobile neurofeedback-therapy in quality of life and self-efficacy: a clinical waitlist control study
Open accessAbstract
Abstract Electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG NF) can improve quality of life (QoL) and reduce distress by modifying the amplitude of selected brain frequencies. This study aims to investigate the effects of NF therapy on QoL and self-efficacy in cancer patients and to explore age-related reactions. In a waitlist control paradigm, psychometric data (EORTC QLQ-C30, General Self-Efficacy Scale) of 20 patients were collected at three different time points, each five weeks apart. An outpatient 10-session NF intervention (mobile) was conducted between the second and third measurement point. QoL and self-efficacy changed significantly over time (QoL: F(2,36) = 5.294, p < .05, η2 = .227; Self-efficacy: F(2,26) = 8.178, p < .05, η2 = .386). While QoL increased in younger patients, older patients initially showed a decrease in QoL, which then increased during intervention. Younger patients did not differ from older patients in QoL in both waitlist control (T0-T1) and intervention phase (T1–T2). QoL in older patients significantly differed between waitlist control and intervention phase (Z = − 2.023, p < .05, d = 1.085). Self-efficacy increased in both age categories. Younger and older patients did not differ in self-efficacy in waitlist control, but in intervention phase (F(1,16) = 7.014, p < .05, η2 = .319). The current findings suggest that NF therapy is a promising treatment modality for improving QoL in cancer patients. Our study reveals NF being a tool to influence self-efficacy, which should receive more appreciation in clinical care. However, the effect of NF in different age groups as well as the influence on further cancer-related symptoms should be investigated in future research.
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Based on a previous study of our study group on NFB treatment in the outpatient setting, the expected dropout rate is 13%.
“Based on a previous study of our study group on NFB treatment in the outpatient setting, we expect a dropout rate of 13%.43 Therefore, we will include 31 participants in the study.”
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- Authors
- Schmidt, K., Krawutschke, M., Kowalski, A., Pasche, S., Bialek, A., Schweig, T., Weismüller, B., Tewes, M., Schuler, M., Hamacher, R., Müller, B. W., Schadendorf, D., Skoda, E.-M., Teufel, M., & Fink, M.
- Affiliations
- Essen University Hospital (DE)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Bielefeld University (DE)
- German Cancer Research Center (DE)
- University of Wuppertal (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schmidt, Kira
- ORCID
- Venue
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
- Published
- 2022-11-18
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 217-227
- ISSN
- 0363-3586 (ISSN-L)
- 1090-0586
- 1573-3270
- PMC
- PMC9676905
- OpenAlex
- W4309582461
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 0.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Essen University Medicine Foundation
- Wiedenfeld-Stiftung
- Universitätsklinikum Essen
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
- Keywords
- cancer patients, quality of life, self-efficacy, age differences, waitlist control, EORTC QLQ-C30, General Self-Efficacy Scale, cancer-related distress
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Humans, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Neurofeedback
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