E3 PreliminaryPreliminaryPEM not requiredCase-ControlPeer-reviewedReviewed
Standard · 3 min
Treatment of chronic fatigue with neurofeedback and self-hypnosis.
Hammond, D C · NeuroRehabilitation · 2001
Quick Summary
This study describes one young woman with ME/CFS whose main problem was brain fog and difficulty thinking clearly. Doctors found an abnormal brain wave pattern on her EEG scan and treated her with two techniques: neurofeedback (training to change brain wave patterns) and self-hypnosis. She felt significantly better, with improvements in fatigue and mental clarity that lasted for at least 9 months.
Why It Matters
This study contributes to growing evidence that ME/CFS involves measurable brain dysfunction and suggests that brain-targeted interventions may help reduce symptoms, particularly cognitive impairment. For patients struggling with brain fog, this case offers a potential alternative approach worth exploring in larger trials.
Observed Findings
Excessive left frontal theta brainwave activity on quantitative EEG in a patient with rapid-onset CFS and cognitive symptoms
Improvement in fatigue scores on the Profile of Mood States following neurofeedback and self-hypnosis
Improvement in vigor and confusion measures following treatment
Clinical improvements reported by parents and through collaborative interviews
Most symptom improvements sustained at 5, 7, and 9-month follow-up assessments
Inferred Conclusions
Brain-targeted interventions combining EEG neurofeedback and self-hypnosis may be beneficial for CFS patients with documented EEG abnormalities
The observed left frontal theta excess may represent a treatable neurophysiological marker in some CFS cases
Neurofeedback-based approaches warrant further investigation as a potential treatment strategy for ME/CFS
Remaining Questions
Would this combined treatment be effective in other ME/CFS patients with similar or different EEG patterns?
What is the mechanism by which neurofeedback and self-hypnosis improve CFS symptoms—is it through normalization of EEG activity?
What This Study Does Not Prove
This single-case report cannot prove that neurofeedback and self-hypnosis are effective treatments for ME/CFS generally, nor can it establish causation between the observed EEG abnormality and symptom improvement. The lack of a control group or blinding means improvement could be due to placebo effect, natural recovery, or other unmeasured factors. Results from one patient cannot be generalized to the broader ME/CFS population.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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