The effects of swLORETA Z-score neurofeedback for patients comorbid with major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms

Abstract

Background: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit atypical brain activities in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. The study aimed to investigate the effects of standardized weighted low-resolution electromagnetic tomography Z-score neurofeedback (swLZNFB) on symptoms of depression and anxiety, electroencephalography (EEG) parameters, and deep brain activities in patients with MDD.

Method: Forty-eight patients with MDD comorbid with anxiety symptoms were assigned to the swLZNFB group and the control group. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and a 5-minute resting EEG at the pre-and post-tests. The swLZNFB group received ten sessions of one-hour treatment twice weekly. The control group received treatment as usual. The scores for BDI-II and BAI, number of EEG abnormalities, percentage of EEG abnormalities, and current source density (CSD) measured in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and amygdala were compared at pre-and post-tests between the two groups.

Results: There were decreased scores of BDI-II and BAI, number of EEG abnormalities, and percentage of EEG abnormalities at post-test compared with pre-test in the swLZNFB group, and lower scores of BDI-II and BAI at post-test in the swLZNFB group compared with the control group. Moreover, decreased CSD of beta1 and beta3 in the PFC, ACC, PCC, and amygdala at post-test compared to pre-test in the swLZNFB group.

Limitations: Not a randomized controlled trial.

Conclusion: Ten sessions of swLZNFB reduced clinical symptoms and atypical brain activities, it serves as a potential psychological intervention for patients with MDD.

Keywords: Anxiety symptoms; Current source density; Major depressive disorder; Standardized weighted low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (swLORETA); Z-score neurofeedback.