title: Neurofeedback to improve neurocognitive functioning of children treated for a brain tumor: design of a randomized controlled double-blind trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurotoxicity caused by treatment for a brain tumor is a major cause of neurocognitive decline in survivors. Studies have shown that neurofeedback may enhance neurocognitive functioning. This paper describes the protocol of the PRISMA study, a randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of neurofeedback to improve neurocognitive functioning in children treated for a brain tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Efficacy of neurofeedback will be compared to placebo training in a randomized controlled double-blind trial. A total of 70 brain tumor survivors in the age range of 8 to 18 years will be recruited. Inclusion also requires caregiver-reported neurocognitive problems and being off treatment for more than two years. A group of 35 healthy siblings will be included as the control group. On the basis of a qEEG patients will be assigned to one of three treatment protocols. Thereafter patients will be randomized to receive either neurofeedback training (n=35) or placebo training (n=35). Neurocognitive tests, and questionnaires administered to the patient, caregivers, and teacher, will be used to evaluate pre- and post-intervention functioning, as well as at 6-month follow-up. Siblings will be administered the same tests and questionnaires once.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If neurofeedback proves to be effective for pediatric brain tumor survivors, this can be a valuable addition to the scarce interventions available to improve neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00961922.
authors.affiliation: Psychosocial Department, Emma Children's Hospital AMC, room A3-241, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. m.a.deruiter@amc.nl
authors.forename: Marieke A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: Antoinette Y N
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Schouten-Van Meeteren
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Mourik
authors.forename: Tieme W P
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Juliette E M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Greidanus
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oosterlaan
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grootenhuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors