People with headaches and migraines usually experience either complete
elimination or a significant reduction in symptoms after receiving
neurotherapy. Jonathan Walker published research in Clinical EEG and
Neuroscience on 71 patients. After receiving neurotherapy training, half
of them completely eliminated their pain and another 39% reported
significant improvements.
We have consistently seen similar results in our practice and guarantee
the effectiveness of our treatment.
RESEARCH ON MIGRAINES
Although neurofeedback training can stop a migraine while it is occurring,
stopping individual migraines is not the main goal. Training with
neurofeedback can be very effective in reducing the intensity and
frequency of migraines over the long term providing real relief for people
suffering from migraines.
Deborah Stokes, Ph.D, a neurofeedback clinician in Alexandria, VA.
recently published a study that showed significant improvement in
migraines using neurofeedback. The study was co-authored with Martha S.
Lappin and entitled “Neurofeedback and biofeedback with 37 migraineurs: a
clinical outcome study”. The study found that, with neurofeedback, 70% of
migraine sufferers have a significant reduction in the frequency of their
migraines.
CASE STUDIES ON MIGRAINES
Neurofeedback and biofeedback with 37 migraineurs: a clinical outcome
study [pdf]
Deborah A Stokes, Martha S Lappin
Behavioral and Brain Functions 2010, 6:9
Background :
Traditional peripheral biofeedback has grade A evidence for effectively
treating migraines. Two newer forms of neurobiofeedback, EEG biofeedback
and hemoencephalography biofeedback were combined with thermal handwarming
biofeedback to treat 37 migraineurs in a clinical outpatient setting.
Methods : 37 migraine
patients underwent an average of 40 neurofeedback sessions combined with
thermal biofeedback in an outpatient biofeedback clinic. All patients were
on at least one type of medication for migraine; preventive, abortive or
rescue. Patients kept daily headache diaries a minimum of two weeks prior
to treatment and throughout treatment showing symptom frequency, severity,
duration and medications used. Treatments were conducted an average of
three times weekly over an average span of 6 months. Headache diaries were
examined after treatment and a formal interview was conducted. After an
average of 14.5 months following treatment, a formal interview was
conducted in order to ascertain duration of treatment effects.
Clin EEG Neurosci. 2011 Jan;42(1):59-61.
QEEG-guided neurofeedback for recurrent migraine headaches.
Walker JE1.
Seventy-one patients with recurrent migraine headaches, aged 17-62, from
one neurological practice, completed a quantitative electroencephalogram
(QEEG) procedure. All QEEG results indicated an excess of high-frequency
beta activity (21-30 Hz) in 1-4 cortical areas. Forty-six of the 71
patients selected neurofeedback training while the remaining 25 chose to
continue on drug therapy. Neurofeedback protocols consisted of reducing
21-30 Hz activity and increasing 10 Hz activity (5 sessions for each
affected site). All the patients were classified as migraine without aura.
For the neurofeedback group the majority (54%) experienced complete
cessation of their migraines, and many others (39%) experienced a
reduction in migraine frequency of greater than 50%. Four percent
experienced a decrease in headache frequency of < 50%. Only one patient
did not experience a reduction in headache frequency. The control group of
subjects who chose to continue drug therapy as opposed to neurofeedback
experienced no change in headache frequency (68%), a reduction of less
than 50% (20%), or a reduction greater than 50% (8%). QEEG-guided
neurofeedback appears to be dramatically effective in abolishing or
significantly reducing headache frequency in patients with recurrent
migraine.
News Coverage
News Coverage
NBC and ABC news stories highlight neurofeedback training for migraine
treatment.
The Washington, DC affiliates for both ABC and NBC News each presented
news stories describing and explaining how neurofeedback is viable
option to help with migraines. Both focused on the work of Deborah
Stokes, Ph.D, a neurofeedback clinician in Alexandria, VA. She
published a study that showed significant improvement in migraines using
neurofeedback.
The NBC news story focuses on one of her patients, Anedi Edelstein, who
came to Dr. Stokes after a long history of medications for migraines.
She had tried 10 different prescription drugs and was concerned about
the side effects of drowsiness, which could affect driving with her
young children. This story discusses how her migraines were impacted by
neurofeedback training and reports that she is now migraine free.
Lynn Hertel, another of Dr. Stokes’ patients, is the focus of the ABC
news story. Lynn, a flute teacher, was often unable to play music
because of her migraines. The migraines were so debilitating that Lynn
says, “I really didn’t have a life. I just survived between migraines.”
Before trying neurofeedback, she had been though “countless treatments.”
After neurofeedback training, Lynn reports that her migraines are
“practically non-existent”.
Neurofeedback, which tends to reduce the number and intensity of
migraines, is typically used with patients like Anedi and Lynn who have
already tried a number of other options, including medications, before
finding neurofeedback. neurofeedback often gives them the relief they
need when other options have only provided a band-aid or come with
unsatisfactory side effects.
Stokes, DA & Lappin, MS. (2010). Neurofeedback and biofeedback with 37 migraineurs: a clinical outcome study. Behavioral and Brain Functions, vol. 6 (9).
Stokes, DA & Lappin, MS. (2010). Neurofeedback and biofeedback with 37 migraineurs: a clinical outcome study. Behavioral and Brain Functions, vol. 6 (9).
