Neurofeedback Intervention in Fibromyalgia Syndrome; a Randomized, Controlled, Rater Blind Clinical Trial

We designed a randomized, rater blind study to assess the efficacy of EEG Biofeedback (Neurofeedback-NFB) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) Eighteen patients received twenty sessions of NFB-sensory motor rhythm (SMR) treatment (NFB group) during 4 weeks, and eighteen patients were given 10 mg per day escitalopram treatment (control group) for 8 weeks Visual Analog Scales for pain and fatigue, Hamilton and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory Scales, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Short Form 36 were used as outcome measures which were applied at baseline and 2nd 4th, 8th, 16th, 24th weeks Mean amplitudes of EEG rhythms (delta, theta, alpha, SMR, betal and beta2) and theta/SMR ratio were also measured in NFB group All post-treatment measurements showed significant improvements in both of the groups (for all parameters p < 0 05) NFB group displayed greater benefits than controls (for all parameters p < 0 05) Therapeutic efficacy of NFB was found to begin at 2nd week and leached to a maximum effect at 4th week On the other hand, the improvements in SSRI treatment were also detected to begin at 2nd week but reached to a maximum effect at 8th week No statistically significant changes were noted regarding mean amplitudes of EEG rhythms (p > 0 05 for all) However theta/SMR ratio showed a significant decrease at 4th week compared to baseline in the NFB group (p < 0 05) These data support the efficacy of NFB as a treatment for pain psychological symptoms and impaired quality of life associated with fibromyalgia