α‐θ Brainwave Training and β‐Endorphin Levels in Alcoholics

Abstract

An alpha-theta brainwave biofeedfack training program was applied as a novel treatment technique for chronic alcoholics. Following a temperature biofeedback pretraining phase, experimental subjects completed 15 30-min sessions of alpha-theta biofeedback training. Compared to a nonalcoholic control group and a traditionally treated alcoholic control group, alcoholics receiving brainwave training (BWT) showed significant increases in percentages of EEG record in alpha and theta rhythms, and increased alpha rhythm amplitudes. Alcoholics receiving BWT showed a gradual increase in alpha and theta brain rhythms across the 15 experimental sessions. These experimentally treated alcoholics showed sharp reductions in self-assessed depression (Beck's Depression Inventory) compared to the control groups. Alcoholics receiving standard medical treatment (abstinence, group psychotherapy, antidepressants) showed a significant elevation in serum beta-endorphin levels at the conclusion of the experiment. This neuropeptide is an index of stress and a stimulant of caloric (e.g., ethanol) intake. Application of brainwave treatment, a relaxation therapy, appears to counteract the increase in circulating beta-endorphin levels seen in the control group of alcoholics. 13-month follow-up data indicate sustained prevention of relapse in alcoholics that completed alpha-theta brainwave training.

Effects of an EEG Biofeedback Protocol on a Mixed Substance Abusing Population

“…This protocol was shown to significantly lower 13 of the scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI), including anxiety, whereas traditional treatment produced decreases in only two of these scales (7). There have been, however, questions raised in the literature regarding the sample size, sample independence, and methodology in the Peniston et al studies (12).…”

EEG Biofeedback as a Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Review, Rating of Efficacy and Recommendations for Further Research

“…(Although theta increase and alpha decrease are thought by Peniston to be associated with a deeply relaxed state where hypnagogic reverie is present, this may simply represent drowsiness; Niedermeyer 1999.) Following the session, with the participant in a relaxed and suggestible state, a therapy session is conducted between the participant and therapist where the contents of the imagery experienced is explored and ''abreactive'' experiences are explored (Peniston & Kulkosky, 1989, 1991. Saxby and Peniston (1995) reported on 14 chronically alcohol dependent and depressed outpatients using this same protocol of alpha-theta brainwave biofeedback.…”

“…Acute and chronic drug abuse results in significant alteration of the brain activity detectable with quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) methods. The treatment of addictive disorders by electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback (or neurofeedback, as it is often called) was first popularized by the work of Eugene Peniston (Peniston & Kulkosky, 1989, 1991 and became popularly known as the Peniston Protocol. This approach employed independent auditory feedback of two slow brain wave frequencies, alpha (8-13 Hz) and theta (4)(5)(6)(7)(8) in an eyes closed condition to produce a hypnagogic state.…”

Covariation of Spectral and Nonlinear Eeg Measures With Alpha Biofeedback

“…However, since excessive expectations (i.e., that alpha feedback could allow persons to reach sublime states of consciousness) turned out to be unrealistic, interest in the phenomenon died away during the 1980s. However, during the past decade alpha feedback underwent a renaissance, which was initiated by replicated reports that alcohol withdrawal is substantially supported by combined alpha-theta feedback training (e.g., Peniston & Kulkosky, 1989;Saxby & Peniston, 1995;Kelley, 1997).…”