TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurofeedback to improve neurocognitive functioning of children treated for a brain tumor: design of a double blind randomized controlled trial
AU - de Ruiter, M.A.
AU - Schouten-van Meeteren, A.Y.N.
AU - van Mourik, R.
AU - Janssen, T.W.P.
AU - Greidanus, J.E.M.
AU - Oosterlaan, J.
AU - Grootenhuis, M.A.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background: Neurotoxicity caused by treatment for a brain tumor is a major cause of neurocognitive decline in survivors. Studies have shown that neurofeedback may enhance neurocognitive functioning. This paper describes the protocol of the PRISMA study, a randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of neurofeedback to improve neurocognitive functioning in children treated for a brain tumor.Methods/Design: Efficacy of neurofeedback will be compared to placebo training in a randomized controlled double-blind trial. A total of 70 brain tumor survivors in the age range of 8 to 18 years will be recruited. Inclusion also requires caregiver-reported neurocognitive problems and being off treatment for more than two years. A group of 35 healthy siblings will be included as the control group. On the basis of a qEEG patients will be assigned to one of three treatment protocols. Thereafter patients will be randomized to receive either neurofeedback training (n=35) or placebo training (n=35). Neurocognitive tests, and questionnaires administered to the patient, caregivers, and teacher, will be used to evaluate pre- and post-intervention functioning, as well as at 6-month follow-up. Siblings will be administered the same tests and questionnaires once.Discussion: If neurofeedback proves to be effective for pediatric brain tumor survivors, this can be a valuable addition to the scarce interventions available to improve neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00961922. © 2012 de Ruiter et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
AB - Background: Neurotoxicity caused by treatment for a brain tumor is a major cause of neurocognitive decline in survivors. Studies have shown that neurofeedback may enhance neurocognitive functioning. This paper describes the protocol of the PRISMA study, a randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of neurofeedback to improve neurocognitive functioning in children treated for a brain tumor.Methods/Design: Efficacy of neurofeedback will be compared to placebo training in a randomized controlled double-blind trial. A total of 70 brain tumor survivors in the age range of 8 to 18 years will be recruited. Inclusion also requires caregiver-reported neurocognitive problems and being off treatment for more than two years. A group of 35 healthy siblings will be included as the control group. On the basis of a qEEG patients will be assigned to one of three treatment protocols. Thereafter patients will be randomized to receive either neurofeedback training (n=35) or placebo training (n=35). Neurocognitive tests, and questionnaires administered to the patient, caregivers, and teacher, will be used to evaluate pre- and post-intervention functioning, as well as at 6-month follow-up. Siblings will be administered the same tests and questionnaires once.Discussion: If neurofeedback proves to be effective for pediatric brain tumor survivors, this can be a valuable addition to the scarce interventions available to improve neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00961922. © 2012 de Ruiter et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
U2 - 10.1186/1471-2407-12-581
DO - 10.1186/1471-2407-12-581
M3 - Article
SN - 1471-2407
VL - 1
SP - 581
EP - 581
JO - BMC Cancer
JF - BMC Cancer
ER -
