Showing posts with label clinical neurofeedback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clinical neurofeedback. Show all posts

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Clinical Neurofeedback Training Malaysia for Panic Attack




Panic attack is a mental illness associated with pathological levels of anxiety that is represented by sudden onset of horror or fear of its reappearance in sufferer. The attacks is characterized with symptoms like heartbeat, sweat, feeling chest tight, tremble, feeling losing balance, or confusion, although they happen in a few minutes. The sufferer, afraid of the emergence of a new attack, may get into anticipatory anxiety and refusing to go to hideous places. 

            Panic disorder is often associated with agoraphobia, and is fear of being alone in public places especially places that are difficult to escape perceived by a panic attack on the person. Panic attack can occur after injuring stress mental disorders, depression disorders and medical illnesses such as drug discontinuation or its poisoning.

            Neurofeedback targets the parts of the brain at the cause of this reaction in an effort to retrain the brain to function more efficiently so the “fight or flight” response is not triggered. The brain learns how to cope with anxiety and fear appropriately during neurofeedback sessions resulting in an overall decrease in anxiety, mood improvement, and increase in daily function. In other words, neurofeedback can help you calm the struggle so you can live with reduced emotional distress caused by panic disorder.

            In past research and review studies, neurofeedback therapy is found to be helpful in regulating metabolic function in brain. Through neurofeedback, panic attack sufferers learn how to strengthen their brain metabolic. The findings reveal that neurofeedback remains its consistency in improving panic disorder patients’ anxiety. This significance suggests that neurofeedback is an effective complementary alternative therapy for common unpleasant anxiety in panic attack sufferers.





Source:
Benioudakis, E. S., Kountzaki, S., Batzou, K., Markogiannaki, K., Seliniotaki, T., Darakis, E. … Nestoros, J. N. (2016). Can neurofeedback decrease anxiety and fear in cancer patients? A case study. Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 25(1), 59-65. http://daneshyari.com/article/preview/331871.pdf
Birbaumer, N., Ruiz, S., & Sitaram, R. (2013). Learned regulation of brain metabolism. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(6), 295-302.                       https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(13)00082-X
Hammond, D. C. (2005). Neurofeedback with anxiety and affective disorders. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 14(1), 105-123. http://michiganbraincoretherapy.com/storage/Anxiety/NEUROFEEDBACKANXIETYAFFECTIVEDISORDERS.pdf
Lu, Y., Wang, C., Su, L., Ma, Z., Li, S., & Fan, Y. (2017). Effects of neurofeedback on panic disorder patients’ anxiety. NeuroQuantology, 15(3), 172-8. https://www.neuroquantology.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1083/867
http://tampatherapy.com/2017/12/13/all-about-panic-disorder-part-two/

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

QEEG brain mapping assessment

Your brain is a highly complex organ made up of billions of cells called neurons. Neurons send and receive messages to and from all parts of your body. This electrical flow in the brain can be measured and mapped using a QEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalogram). This is known as a “brain map.” Getting a QEEG involves having patients put on a cap that measures 19 sites on their brain. The sites show functions such as focus, worry, decision making, and obsessive thinking.

QEEG, which was developed in the late 1970s, is a type of brain map or database that provides a more visual way to look at the formation of brain waves. QEEG allows you to see more clearly what's going on with their brain functioning. It enables us to see how their brain is communicating. With quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) it is possible to observe several patterns that include optimal states of psychic balance, but also states of focus, attention, language ability, fear, anxiety, panic, anger, impatience, panic attack and depression etc.
Why do I need QEEG brain mapping?
We use the brain map as a kind of “fitness evaluation” or a “roadmap” so we know how best to develop a neurofeedback protocol for your specific situation. In doing so, mind we endeavor to teach your brain how to balance itself, physician eliminating the “noise” and habits that may be causing or contributing to your symptoms. Clinical Neurofeedback training can also be used to enhance your performance, remedy too.Your brain map, which takes just an hour, will capture a window of your brain activity, analyze the data, and create a visual representation for each lobe of the brain and each specific type of brain wave (Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta). And please be aware that brain mapping is not a medical diagnostic tool but merely a method to understand your brain function better.
Prior to getting a QEEG, we could only see how the brain was functioning at specific sites. With the QEEG, we can now see the relationships between different areas of the brain at the same time. As a result, I have a much clearer picture of what's going on in patients' brains, so their treatment is much more effective. QEEG is really a wonderful tool that works hand in hand with clinical neurofeedback.


What experience and training do you need to provide brain maps and neurofeedback training?
Hiro Koo is a certified clinical neurofeedback practitioner from the Spectrum Biofeedback Certification Institute of Asia (SBCIA). He is also master trainer of the SBCIA, it is an institute that provide certification and research & development in the field of Neurofeedback and Biofeedback. SBCIA is the premiere training/Research institute in Asia-Pacific for neurofeedback, biofeedback and self-regulatory exercises. Hiro Koo is one of the first two master trainers of clinical neurofeedback in Malaysia. Hiro Koo was trained by the late Dr Dr Kenneth Kang, a Educational Psychologist, who is the founder of the first neurofeedback therapy centre in Asia (1995) and founding president of SBCIA.


What can I do after the QEEG brain mapping assessment?
You can do the brain training with clinical neurofeedback which can help build new circuits that minimize fear, shame, and anger, that is, compromised brain development can affect emotional control, Control of verbal or behavioral impulses and neurocognition as intelligence, memory, perception and attention. 
The treatment is based on the belief that the source of a person’s problematic condition — for example anxiety and depression - is due to brain disregulation and Neurofeedback Training (NFT) helps to restore that balance. The electrodes on the electroencephalogram (EEG) cap allow your brain function to be fed back to you through the computer screen. The specific problematic areas are then identified that need training.
“The only way you can get that video to play is by making your brain function better. That happens randomly at the beginning but what happens over time is that by making the video play, a person is learning to control their brain function in the area where it is needed.”




Source:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/healthandlife/yourhealth/neurofeedback-training-can-help-with-depression-and-anxiety-385288.html
https://carltonneurofeedbackcenter.com/what-is-a-brain-map-or-qeeg/

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

(PTSD Treatment Malaysia ) Clinical Neurofeedback for Chronic PTSD




After going through a trauma, survivors often say that their first feeling is relief to be alive. This may be followed by stress, fear, and anger. Trauma survivors may also find they are unable to stop thinking about what happened. Many survivors will show a high level of arousal, which causes them to react strongly to sounds and sights around them.
Most people have some kind of stress reaction after a trauma. Having such a reaction has nothing to do with personal weakness. Stress reactions may last for several days or even a few weeks. For most people, if symptoms occur, they will slowly decrease over time.

What are common reactions to trauma?

All kinds of trauma survivors commonly experience stress reactions. This is true for veterans, children, and disaster rescue or relief workers. If you understand what is happening when you or someone you know reacts to a traumatic event, you may be less fearful and better able to handle things.
Reactions to a trauma may include:
  • Feeling hopeless about the future
  • Feeling detached or unconcerned about others
  • Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Feeling jumpy and getting startled easily at sudden noises
  • Feeling on guard and constantly alert
  • Having disturbing dreams and memories or flashbacks
  • Having work or school problems
You may also experience more physical reactions such as:
  • Stomach upset and trouble eating
  • Trouble sleeping and feeling very tired
  • Pounding heart, rapid breathing, feeling edgy
  • Sweating
  • Severe headache if thinking of the event
  • Failure to engage in exercise, diet, safe sex, regular health care
  • Excess smoking, alcohol, drugs, food
  • Having your ongoing medical problems get worse
You may have more emotional troubles such as:
  • Feeling nervous, helpless, fearful, sad
  • Feeling shocked, numb, and not able to feel love or joy
  • Avoiding people, places, and things related to the event
  • Being irritable or having outbursts of anger
  • Becoming easily upset or agitated
  • Blaming yourself or having negative views of oneself or the world
  • Distrust of others, getting into conflicts, being over-controlling
  • Being withdrawn, feeling rejected, or abandoned
  • Loss of intimacy or feeling detached

Recovery from stress reactions

Turn to your family and friends when you are ready to talk. They are your personal support system. Recovery is an ongoing gradual process. It doesn't happen through suddenly being "cured" and it doesn't mean that you will forget what happened. Most people will recover from trauma naturally. If your stress reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities, you may want to talk to a counselor or your doctor. Good treatments are available.

Common problems that can occur after a trauma

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a condition that can develop after you have gone through a life-threatening event. If you have PTSD, you may have trouble keeping yourself from thinking over and over about what happened to you. You may try to avoid people and places that remind you of the trauma. You may feel numb. Lastly, if you have PTSD, you might find that you have trouble relaxing. You may startle easily and you may feel on guard most of the time.
Depression. Depression involves feeling down or sad more days than not. If you are depressed, you may lose interest in activities that used to be enjoyable or fun. You may feel low in energy and be overly tired. You may feel hopeless or in despair, and you may think that things will never get better. Depression is more likely when you have had losses such as the death of close friends. If you are depressed, at times you might think about hurting or killing yourself. For this reason, getting help for depression is very important.
Self-blame, guilt and shame. Sometimes in trying to make sense of a traumatic event, you may blame yourself in some way. You may think you are responsible for bad things that happened, or for surviving when others didn't. You may feel guilty for what you did or did not do. Remember, we all tend to be our own worst critics. Most of the time, that guilt, shame, or self-blame is not justified.
Suicidal thoughts. Trauma and personal loss can lead a depressed person to think about hurting or killing themselves. If you think someone you know may be feeling suicidal, you should directly ask them. You will NOT put the idea in their head. If someone is thinking about killing themselves, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.orgLink will take you outside the VA website. VA is not responsible for the content of the linked site.. You can also call a counselor, doctor, or 911.
Anger or aggressive behavior. Trauma can be connected with anger in many ways. After a trauma, you might think that what happened to you was unfair or unjust. You might not understand why the event happened and why it happened to you. These thoughts can result in intense anger. Although anger is a natural and healthy emotion, intense feelings of anger and aggressive behavior can cause problems with family, friends, or co-workers. If you become violent when angry, you just make the situation worse. Violence can lead to people being injured, and there may be legal consequences.
Alcohol/Drug abuse. Drinking or "self-medicating" with drugs is a common, and unhealthy, way of coping with upsetting events. You may drink too much or use drugs to numb yourself and to try to deal with difficult thoughts, feelings, and memories related to the trauma. While using alcohol or drugs may offer a quick solution, it can actually lead to more problems. If someone close begins to lose control of drinking or drug use, you should try to get them to see a health care provider about managing their drinking or drug use.

Summing it all up

Right after a trauma, almost every survivor will find himself or herself unable to stop thinking about what happened. Stress reactions, such as increased fear, nervousness, jumpiness, upsetting memories, and efforts to avoid reminders, will gradually decrease over time for most people.
Use your personal support systems, family and friends, when you are ready to talk. Recovery is an ongoing gradual process. It doesn't happen through suddenly being "cured" and it doesn't mean that you will forget what happened. Most people will recover from trauma naturally over time. If your emotional reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities, you may want to talk to a counselor or your doctor. Good treatments are available.


CLICK HERE FOR Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 


EEG Biofeedback (also known as neurofeedback) has been in use as a clinical intervention for well over 30 years; however, it has made very little impact on clinical care. One reason for this has been the difficulty in designing research to measure clinical change in the real world. While substantial evidence exists for its efficacy in treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, relatively little evidence exists for its utility in other disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

 The current study represents a "proof-of-concept" pilot for the use of neurofeedback with multiply-traumatized individuals with treatment-resistant PTSD. Participants completed 40 sessions of neurofeedback training two times per week with sensors randomly assigned (by the study coordinator, who was not blind to condition) to sensor placements of either T4-P4 or T3-T4. 

We found that neurofeedback significantly reduced PTSD symptoms (Davidson Trauma Scale scores averaged 69.14 at baseline to 49.26 at termination), and preceded gains in affect regulation (Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities-Affect Dysregulation scores averaged 23.63 at baseline to 17.20 at termination). We discuss a roadmap for future research.


Contact us via 0167154419 if you would like to do the clinical neurofeedback treatment in Malaysia.




Source: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26782083 
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/337136722082730446/
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/common-reactions-after-trauma.asp

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA) Mental Healthy Day - Opening Ceremony Guest Speaker

Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA) Mental Healthy Day. 
Glad to be the opening ceremony guest speaker of the day. 
Hope my talk benefits the future medical practitioners from UTAR MBBS course. 





Sunday, November 19, 2017

Malaysia Clinical Neurofeedback | Hand flapping Management


Experts in the field who have studied self-stimulatory behaviors have hypothesized that there are two primary reasons why individuals with autism engage in these unusual repetitive behaviors. 

The first theory involves hyposensitivity, that is, the individual’s body craves stimulation. Basically, the self-stimulatory behavior serves to arouse one’s nervous system and provides the individual with some form of internal satisfaction. This is thought to be the result of a dysfunctional system in the brain and/or the nervous system.


The second theory involves the opposite function, that is, hypersensitivity. In this theory, self-stimulatory behaviors are not engaged in to excite one’s nervous system, but to calm one self. This could be the result of an environment that is over-stimulating and the individual with autism is experiencing sensory overload, therefore engages in self-stimulatory behaviors not to arouse the nervous system, but to block out the over-stimulating environment.


It might seem logical to simply intervene and try to stop the individual from engaging in the self-stimulatory behavior; however, this strategy is not recommended. Since the individual is engaging in these behaviors for a reason, if we attempt to interrupt and stop the behavior, it is possible that another behavior, that could possibly be more stigmatizing or even harmful, could develop.
If a self-stimulatory behavior interferes with the individual’s ability to pay attention to their environment and participate in important activities, there is a basis for concern. Intervention should involve looking at the sensory channel that is being stimulated and replacing the self-stimulatory behavior with another more socially acceptable behavior that will provide the same type of reinforcement.
Here are some common examples of self-stimulatory behaviors as they relate to sensory channels.
Visual: staring at lights, repetitive blinking, moving fingers in front of the eyes, hand-flapping
Auditory: tapping ears, snapping fingers, unusual vocalizations
Tactile: rubbing the skin with one’s hands or with another object, scratching
Vestibular: rocking front to back, rocking side-to-side
Taste: placing body parts or objects in one’s mouth, licking objects
Smell: smelling objects, sniffing people


By utilizing the technology of Clinical Neurofeedback, we can help you to deal with the
hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity issue. Clinical Neurofeedback training can deal with the root cause which is the brain arousal problem.
We will use a safe, non-invasive and no side effect method to peek into your brain and understand your brain arousal level. Feel free to contact us for an initial consultation



Source: 
https://www.stvincentsspecialneeds.org/why-does-my-child-hand-flap-and-rock/