Depression
Depression is characterized by excessive slow wave activity in the brain. Depression is very easily treated with Neurofeedback, resulting in increased motivation, interest, and excitement for life. Most of our clients have weaned completely off antidepressants.

Signs & Symptoms
People with depression find it difficult to find joy in life. They are plagued with feelings of self doubt, low motivation, and pervasive sadness. One client described it as, “I feel like I’m wading through molasses as I try to accomplish the most basic tasks.”

Other symptoms include:

• Lack of motivation & loss of interest in favorite activities
• Hopelessness
• Low self-worth, pervasive guilt without reason
• Fatigue
• Significant weight change
• Feelings of isolation from family and friends
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Thoughts of death or suicide

What's Going On in the Brain
People who suffer for depression often show higher than normal slow wave (theta frequency band) activity in the left frontal area of the brain. The frontal lobe is responsible for emotions, attention, judgment, concentration, and executive planning. This slow wave activity dampens emotions, suppresses motivation, and impairs judgment.

How Neurofeedback Helps Depression
Neurofeedback encourages the brain to make more “pay attention” (beta frequency band) to help the brain become more alert, engaged, and upbeat. By inhibiting the slower and rewarding the faster activity, the brain learns to better regulate itself and motivation and excitement for life return.

Many clients have found that as their mood improves, they have worked with their physicians to completely wean off antidepressants and claim to function better than they ever did on antidepressants.

Research
The following are selected research studies showing the effect of Neurofeedback on depression:

The effects of alpha/theta neurofeedback on personality and mood.
Raymond J, Varney C, Parkinson LA, Gruzelier JH. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005 May;23(2-3):287-92

Clinical use of an alpha asymmetry neurofeedback protocol in the treatment of mood disorders: Follow-up study one to five years post therapy.
Baehr, Elsa; Rosenfeld, J. Peter; Baehr, Rufus; Journal of Neurotherapy, Vol 4(4), 2001. pp. 11-18.

An EEG biofeedback protocol for affective disorders.
Rosenfeld JP, Clin Electroencephalogr. 2000 Jan;31(1):7-12. Review

Numerous additional references are available upon request.