Research aim:
- To assess the recruitment and retention rate in a diverse sample of refugees offered neurofeedback as an adjunct therapy.
- To assess patients' perceived satisfaction as well as potential discomfort related to the neurofeedback intervention.
- To measure changes in symptoms during treatment to evaluate preliminary indications of treatment effects, and to inform a power calculation for a potential randomized controlled trial.
Design: A pilot study, designed to evaluate the feasibility and indications of effectiveness of neurofeedback
Population: 40 trauma-affected refugees referred to treatment at CTP
Methods: Participants will receive neurofeedback after the first or second treatment phase at CTP. Phase one includes 6 sessions with an MD for psychoeducation and possible medication, and phase two includes 12-20 sessions of trauma-focused psychotherapy. The primary outcome will be measured using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), with secondary measures including the HSCL-25, SDS, WHO-5, Ham-D, and Ham-A. These scales will be administered at baseline and after 12 sessions. EEG will be recorded at the beginning and end of each session for 3 minutes using a 21-electrode cap. Qualitative interviews with 5-6 patients will explore their experiences with neurofeedback.
Primary investigator: Erik Vindbjerg, Psychologist, PhD and Sigrid Zeuthen Hannemose, MD
Supervisors: Jessica Carlsson, MD, PhD
Collaborative partners: Søren Bo Andersen, Kasper Eskelund, the Department of Military Psychology Department, Danish Veteran Centre, Copenhagen.
Publications
Hannemose, S. Z., Laugesen Attardo, H., Vindbjerg, E., & Carlsson, J. (2024). Exploring expectations of neurofeedback treatment among trauma-affected refugees. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 78(1), 46-53.
Reiter, K., Andersen, S. B., & Carlsson, J. (2016). Neurofeedback treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder: Effectiveness of neurofeedback on posttraumatic stress disorder and the optimal choice of protocol. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 204(2), 69-77.