Are there adverse effects from Neurofeedback?
In the 30-year history of the field with hundreds of thousands of training sessions by clinicians, there has never been a lawsuit for adverse effects of Neurofeedback training. It is, after all, just self-regulation training. That having been said, recognize that anything that has the power to change things for the better could potentially have adverse effects. This tool can help improve sleep – it can also make sleep worse. It can improve depression – or could make it worse. However, it’s hard to make things worse for long. Initially, the effects wear off quickly, and the appropriate changes can be made. Effects of training can be reversed by changing protocols. Monitoring change and shifting training protocols is part of the responsibility of a trained professional. Like titrating medications, short-term effects provide information useful in adjusting the client’s training. Short-term symptomswear off. So, negative effects from going in the wrong direction can be rapidly changed.
