Is neurofeedback an efficacious treatment for ADHD? A randomised controlled clinical trial.
Parent and teacher ratings favored neurofeedback over computerized attention training in this trial. Later research provides a more mixed picture of ADHD outcomes.
Gevensleben H, Holl B, Albrecht B, Vogel C, Schlamp D, Kratz O, Studer P, Rothenberger A, Moll GH, Heinrich H.
Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · Publication date: 2009-01-12
Added to site: 2026-09-09
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.02033.x
Publication date recorded by Europe PMC; online and issue dates may differ.
- Modalities
- Neurofeedback
- Clinical focus
- ADHD
- Population
- Children with ADHD
- Sample
- 102 children, ages 8–12
- Intervention / method
- 36 sessions combining theta/beta and slow cortical potential training
- Comparator
- Computerized attention-skills training
Clinician summary
The randomized trial reported a between-group effect size of 0.60 for its primary parent-rated ADHD outcome after training.
How to interpret the findings
An active training comparison is not sham neurofeedback. Rater expectations and protocol differences matter; consult the later ADHD meta-analysis in this library.
Equipment and disclosures
Equipment details were not verified from the reviewed abstract.
Funding and competing-interest disclosures were not verified from the reviewed abstract.
Related evidence
Compare findings from the same clinical area, including mixed results.
- Neurofeedback for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. · Mixed
- Slow Cortical Potential Versus Live Z-score Neurofeedback in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Multi-arm Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial with Active and Passive Comparators. · Mixed
- Efficacy and safety of noninvasive brain stimulation for ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomized controlled trials across international English and Chinese databases. · Positive with limitations
- ADHD classification using spherical phase space partitioning and symbolic time series analysis of multi-channel EEG signals · Positive with limitations
Summary prepared with AI assistance. Source verification does not imply an independent replication or a clinician's endorsement. Read our review method.