eegNF can be tremendously helpful for bipolar. One of my early training mentors, a leading educator in the field, said this: It's almost like eegNF was "made for bipolar disorder treatment". This pertains only to classic bipolar disorder, not bipolar 2 or "bipolar spectrum" though those also might benefit.
I've seen bihemispheric training be amazingly useful in a few patients. Probably not much research there, because rarely does a clinic with neurofeedback work with brittle bipolar disorder, and its not common for these patients or their psychiatrists to look for neurofeedback. Also, a well trained NF clinician would not expect to abort or stabilize an acute episode with NF. They would be more likely to step in with a stabilized patient not tolerating their meds well / who is desireing to reduce meds or one hoping to get more into remission on the meds. What often happens if this is successful, is that the meds are then slowly reduced.
I recall reading an article on eye dominance. And that eye dominance, particularly the brain's handling of eye dominance that involves a coordination between the hemispheres, might be a biomarker for bipolar disorder. So, when in eegNF I'm hearing that the bihemispheric trainings generally used in NF for bipolar disorder symptoms -- which require the two sides of the brain to coordinate their eeg production in order to get the rewards-- it made some sense to me.
Clinicians vary on their thoughts on whether patients with bipolar disorder can "graduate" from trainings. some think they will always require some training, maybe frequently. Some are able to reduce meds considerably. Some NF clinicians say they've followed up with patients who show years of stability.
I mentioned the bihemispheric training. There is also central (CZ) training done at the vertex. There is thinking and evidence that training there has a more diffuse impact (more of the brain effected), and that it is generally stabilizing, addressing the "conductor" of the eeg. (Most projections to the thalamus from there). I have one mentor who likened CZ training to putting a "gear with better teeth" where a pointy fulcrum was on the see-saw of mood. And likened the bihemispheric training (C3 + C4 or C5+C6) to helping the Brain have better balancing skill on the two ENDS of the teeter-totter.
I have a small N but have definitely seen these sorts of stabilizing effects of eegNF.
And one final thought. In prevention, for the mother we just discussed whose mood disorder may be becoming more brittle, if there is access to NF, she might try it for prevention purposes. If other gains are noted (better mood regulation, less PMS, less migraines, better sleep), this may indicate possibility of going on less meds or doing better long-term. IF she got NF, it would be likely as her brain responds, side effects of the med increases (better regulated brain needs less meds to help and will develop side effects. This results in a natural process of weaning and must be differentiated from a negative response to training.
And also, early detection of mood stability in the children and possibility of early intervention with eegNF in the kids may help grow more mood stabilizing connections and maybe help with PMS etc. in the adolescent girls.
Hoping billing codes, training, and availability of eeg NF continues to grow.
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