A Scoping Review on Integration of Electroencephalogram Neurofeedback Training for Alcohol Use Disorder: Clinical and Neurocognitive Outcomes

Abstract

Background. The conventional treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) consists of dual treatment encompassing pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Nonetheless, the impact of these treatments on clinical and neurocognitive outcomes is only low to medium efficacy. Research studies substantiate the integration of electroencephalogram neurofeedback training (EEG-NFT) as an add-on tool with significant improvements in clinical and neurocognitive outcomes. Methods. A scoping review of the existing literature on EEG-NFT and AUD, which are open access, including review papers and empirical studies in the English language, and with human subjects are deemed worthy of the scope of this study. The keywords electroencephalogram neurofeedback training, alcohol use disorder, stress, neurocognition, and relapse were used. The primary sources of the literature search were Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. A total of 35 articles have been included in the scoping review. Studies from the last 15 years were considered for the same. Results. This review revealed that EEG-NFT is a promising tool with significant improvements in stress levels, cognitive deficits, and relapse rates for individuals with AUD when used in integration with conventional treatments. Conclusion. Chronic alcohol use affects cognitive functions, escalates relapse rate, and increases stress experienced by the individual. The present study highlights the significance of NFT as a potent add-on treatment modality to improve clinical and cognitive outcomes, thereby facilitating abstinence and reducing relapse rates in individuals with AUD.