title: [Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: a Case Report].
abstract: Anorexia nervosa has been related to alterations in brain activity in terms of hyperactive EEG patterns. This case report illustrates the principles and results of a five-week neurofeedback treatment in a 29-year-old woman suffering from anorexia nervosa. A neurofeedback protocol to enhance alpha activity (8 - 12 Hz) was developed and conducted additionally to the standardized treatment for eating disorders in training sessions twice a week. Pre- and post-test measurements included resting state EEG measurements and a psychological test battery. The results show improvements from pre- to post-test in eating disorder psychopathology including psychological wellbeing, emotional competence, and eating behavior traits. In addition, a decrease in theta power (4 - 7 Hz), a well-known trait marker of anorexia nervosa, was measured. However, our data should be interpreted with caution because this is a single case study. Nevertheless, this report documents the practicability and method of neurofeedback as treatment adjunct in eating disorders from the clinical perspective. Although the use of neurofeedback in the treatment of anorexia nervosa is recommended in literature, empirical studies are still lacking. Randomized controlled trials to evaluate short- and long-term effects of neurofeedback are needed.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Unterrainer
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skliris
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: 3. Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunitz-Scheer
authors.affiliation: Pathophysiologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wallner-Liebmann
authors.affiliation: 3. Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: P J Z
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Scheer
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neuper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D016896:Treatment Outcome