Neurofeedback Treatment for Traumatized Refugees - A Pilot Study

Abstract: The aim of this quasi-experimental pilot study was to examine if neurofeedback is associated with a reduction in some of the common symptoms suffered by traumatized refugees who have been exposed to war and/or torture. Furthermore, an ambition was to develop and test methods for conducting research with this group. Twenty-one individuals were divided into either a treatment-group (n=12) or a non-equivalent control-group (n=9). No attrition occurred in the treatment-group, whereas 2 individuals dropped out of the control-group. The treatment consisted of 8-10 sessions of neurofeedback, over a time period of 10-15 weeks. Five instruments were used (the PTSD Checklist: Civilian Version, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist -25, the Symptom Checklist: Subscale Somatization and WHO-5 – Wellbeing Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) to measure difference in symptom severity. The main analysis of the data was conducted using mixed-design MANOVA and ANOVA. The results indicated a significant improvement seen over time for the treatment-group when compared to a non-equivalent control-group, on 4 of the 5 instruments. Neurofeedback appears to be a promising treatment for individuals with PTSD, but more research needs to be conducted in a controlled setting before any claims can be made concerning efficacy. This study was conducted in cooperation with the Red Cross Center for Victims of War and Torture in Malmö, Sweden.