What is Neurotherapy? Is it Effective in Addiction Treatment?

Key Takeaways

• Neurotherapy is a noninvasive form of treatment to improve brain functioning.
• Neurotherapy treats many conditions, from ADHD to PTSD.¹
• Treating the brain with neurotherapy is most effective when combined with traditional therapy.
• Doing neurotherapy sessions can be expensive and time-consuming. It’s not for everyone.

What is Neurotherapy?

Neurotherapy is also known as neurofeedback and electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback.⁴ It’s a drug-free treatment that improves brain function by changing its electrical activity (brainwaves) over time.^{13, 14}

Neurotherapy talks directly to the brain to show the brain its desirable and undesirable patterns. It can be likened to holding a mirror up to your brain so it can see itself.

Research suggests that the brain is dynamic; it can modify, change, and adapt structure and function throughout life and in response to experience. This is known as neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt by forming new neural networks over time.^{16, 19}

Once your brain becomes aware of new information, it can make changes. It can do away with the undesirable patterns and repeat the desirable ones. 

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7 Types of Neurotherapy

There are seven types of neurotherapy:¹¹

1. Frequency/power neurofeedback. This type of neurofeedback analyzes the frequency of your various brain waves.¹⁰
2. Slow cortical potential neurofeedback (SCP-NF). SCP-NF aims to improve brain performance by self-regulating cortical excitation thresholds. It looks at the slow event-related changes.
3. Low-energy neurofeedback system (LENS). LENS helps the brain develop new neural pathways over time.
4. Hemoencephalography (HEG) neurofeedback. HEG boosts blood flow to your brain to improve mental and emotional functioning.²⁰
5. Live Z-score neurofeedback. Live Z-score neurofeedback encourages brain flexibility and connectivity.⁹
6. Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). LORETA mathematically analyzes EEG signals to determine where they’re coming from within the brain’s cortex.
7. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI uses imaging to look at regional changes in your brain metabolism over time.⁶

Neurotherapy Uses

Neurotherapy can be used to treat several mental health disorders and other conditions.^{3, 5, 7, 12}

• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Chronic pain
• Learning disabilities
• Fatigue
• Sleep disorders
• Migraines
• Addiction

Brain stimulation from neurotherapy has been shown to induce relaxed attention, which can help people dealing with ADHD.^{12, 18}

Stimulating brain wave activity is also proven to help people struggling with anxiety and depression. 

In one study, after 30 neurotherapy sessions (coupled with heart rate variability training), 57 percent of people with severe anxiety and 45 percent with severe depression felt better. They showed “normal” brain activity following treatment.²¹ 

The same is true for PTSD. Just 24 neurotherapy sessions have been shown to reduce the symptoms of PTSD significantly.⁸

Some science reports that neurotherapy can improve ASD behaviors, including emotional outbursts. Neurotherapy has also notably or completely improved migraines.¹⁷

Is Neurotherapy Effective in Addiction Treatment?

Neurotherapy is considered an effective addiction treatment. The treatment can help to reduce the desire and cravings for substances like cocaine and alcohol.²

However, experts find that neurotherapy is most effective when combined with traditional therapy approaches. Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used alongside neurotherapy.

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Pros and Cons of Neurotherapy

Like all types of treatment, there are both pros and cons to neurotherapy. Here are some of the most common pros:¹⁵

• Improved memory
• Better mental clarity and focus
• Decreased impulsivity
• Less anxiety
• Enhanced sleep

Neurotherapy is also a long-lasting treatment with no known side effects. It teaches the brain how to perform more optimally. This means that your brain can function better after you stop the treatment.

However, all treatments have their downsides. Here are some cons of neurotherapy:

• Time-consuming (it can take months to work)
• Expensive

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Is Neurotherapy Safe? 

Neurotherapy is considered a safe, non-invasive treatment. It only places electrodes on the scalp to monitor your brain activity. These electrodes don’t transmit any signals to your brain.

During a typical session, you’ll sit in a chair, and your doctor will place the electrodes on your scalp. This process is painless.

Your doctor will guide you through several activities while the electrodes record the electrical activity in your brain. For example, they might ask you to look at images, listen to music, or play games on your phone.

When you do, the electrodes give your brain instant feedback. Over time, your brain learns how to develop and sustain the desired brain activity. 

A neurotherapy session is usually about half an hour to an hour long. Treatment usually consists of about 30 to 40 sessions, though it varies depending on the person and their needs.

Alternative Treatments

Alternative treatments vary depending on your condition. Some alternative treatments that may be helpful across the board include the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Holistic therapy
• Group therapy

Summary

Neurotherapy is a safe and effective treatment to improve brain function. It’s best used when paired with other traditional forms of therapy. However, this non-invasive procedure takes time and costs money, so it’s not for everyone. 

Talk to your doctor about whether or not neurotherapy is the right treatment for you. Depending on your condition, there are also alternative treatments you can explore.