Banaschewski T. DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft HO 2503/4-1: Neurofeedback in children with ADHD - a controlled multicenter study of a non-pharmacological treatment approach (DFG-BMBF Sonderprogramm Klinische Studien). 12/2008-12/2012.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. At present, pharmacotherapy like methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) is the treatment of choice for ADHD children. Among alternative treatment approaches, Neurofeedback (EEG-Biofeedback) has emerged as a non-invasive treatment for children with ADHD. Neurofeedback refers to a procedure that encourages the individual to exercise a certain amount of self-control over his/her “brainwaves” as recorded by EEG. The rationale for using Neurofeedback as an intervention in ADHD is the consistently reported neurophysiological deficit of cortical arousal in ADHD children. The aim of such training is that the children learn how to bring their neurophysiological profile closer to that of non-ADHD children, resulting in concomitant improvements in behaviour and cognition. The aim of this investigation is to examine the efficacy of Neurofeedback in childhood ADHD in a prospective, randomized, controlled study, assessing its effectiveness in comparison to an unspecific peripheral biofeedback treatment (muscular relaxation) with an identical setting. After a six-month delay, a follow-up examination will be conducted focusing on the long-term effects.