A Systematic Review of the Effects of EEG Neurofeedback on Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1 in 300 people worldwide. It is characterized by a range of symptoms, including positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and formal thought disorganization), negative symptoms (anhedonia, alogia, avolition, asociality, and blunted affect), and cognitive impairments (impaired memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed). Current treatments, such as psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, often do not fully address these symptoms, leading to impaired everyday functionality. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in neuromodulation due to computer and engineering science making extraordinary computational advances. Those put together have reinitiated the spark in the field of neurofeedback (NF) as a means for self-regulation and neuromodulation with the potential to alleviate the daily burden of schizophrenia. We review, in a systematic way, the primary reports of electroencephalogram (EEG)-based NF as a therapeutical tool for schizophrenia. The main body of research consists mostly of case studies and case reports. The results of a few randomized controlled studies, combined with case studies/series, underscore the potential use of NF as an add-on treatment option for improving the lives of suffering individuals, being sustained by the changes in brain function and symptomatology improvement. We aim to provide important evidence of neuromodulation using NF in patients with schizophrenia, summarizing the effects and conclusions found in several clinical trials.