QEEG And Digit Span Before And After Neurofeedback In Benzodiazepine Abuse In Treatment : A Case Series
Aprilia Grace Sweetasari(1), Siti Aminah Sobana(2), Suryani Gunadharma(2), Lisda Amalia(2), Ahmad Rizal Ganiem(2), Arifah Nur Istiqomah(3), Uni Gamayani(2)

(1)Departement of Neurology, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani
(2) Departement of Neurology, Universitas Padjadjaran
(3) Departement of Psichiatry, Universitas Padjadjaran

Abstract

Benzodiazepine is most commonly abused drug, causes brainwave abnormality and working memory disorder. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) - guided neurofeedback has been used to treat substance abuse but so far limited for benzodiazepine abuse. The aim of this study was to determine the response of qEEG and its effect on working memory evaluated by digit span in benzodiazepine abuse patients before and after neurofeedback.
This is a case series of four subjects with benzodiazepine abuse in treatment who underwent 15 sessions of neurofeedback training using alpha/beta2 protocol at C3 and C4 to evaluate qEEG and digit span before and after the 5th, 10th and15th sessions of neurofeedback.
Although there were various responses in qEEG, all subjects reported improvement in working memory (total digit span score) before and after neurofeedback training in benzodiazepine abuse in treatment. The findings indicate that more research with larger subjects are warranted to clarify the benefits of neurofeedback training for benzodiazepine abuse patients in treatment.

Keywords: benzodiazepine abuse, neurofeedback, qEEG

Topic: Biomedical Science