QEEG Brain Map
QEEG ASSESSMENT PRIOR TO NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING (Brain map)
Not all brains have the same imbalances
Research (Hammond, 2010) has found that there is heterogeneity in the EEG patterns associated with different diagnostic conditions such as ADD/ADHD, anxiety, or obsessive compulsive disorder. For example, scientific research has identified a minimum of three major subtypes of ADD/ADHD, none of which can be diagnosed from only observing the person’s behaviour and each of which requires a different treatment protocol.
Assessing what EEG frequencies are excessive or deficient
The picture can become even more complicated by the fact that sometimes there are other comorbid problems present, and not simply ADD/ADHD alone. Therefore, appropriate assessment is important prior to beginning to do neurofeedback to determine what EEG frequencies are excessive or deficient, or if there are problems in processing speed or coherence, and in what parts of the brain. Proper assessment allows the treatment to be individualized and tailored to the patient.
Documented ability to aid in the evaluation of conditions such as ADHD
Since the 1970s and 1980s there has been a great deal of research and abundant evidence (summarized in Thatcher (2010)), that has verified the reliability of the assessment's evaluation, and hundreds of scientific studies have been published using QEEG evaluations.
These studies have found the QEEG to have documented ability to aid in the evaluation of conditions such as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI; and sports-related concussions), ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, drug abuse, autism, and a variety of other conditions (including schizophrenia, stroke, epilepsy, and dementia; e.g., Alper, Prichep, Kowalik, Rosenthal, & John, 1998; Amen et al., 2011; Barry, Clarke, Johnstone, McCarthy, & Selikowitz, 2009; Clarke, Barry, McCarthy, & Selikowitz, 2001; Clarke et al., 2007; Harris et al., 2001; Hoffman et al., 1999; Hughes & John, 1999; Newton et al., 2004; Thatcher, 2010; Thatcher et al., 1999).
QEEG has even been able to predict treatment outcomes from interventions with conditions such as ADD/ADHD (Suffin & Emory, 1995), and alcoholism and drug abuse (Bauer, 1993, 2001; Prichep, Alper, Kowalik, John, et al., 1996; Prichep, Alper, Kowalik, & Rosenthal, 1996; Winterer et al., 1998).
Used by psychologists and health care professionals
The American Psychological Association has also endorsed QEEG as being within the scope of practice of psychologists who are appropriately trained, and the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) has similarly endorsed its use by qualified health care professionals who are appropriately trained (Hammond et al., 2004) and created standards for the use of QEEG in neurofeedback.
READ MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS
A QEEG is an assessment tool to objectively and scientifically evaluate a person’s brainwave function.
