title: QEEG-guided neurofeedback for recurrent migraine headaches.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Neurotherapy Center of Dallas, 12870 Hillcrest, Suite 201, Dallas, Texas 75230, USA. admin@neurotherapydallas.com
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001611:Beta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological / Q000295:instrumentation; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult