Neurofeedback & Biofeedback For Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive substance use despite the negative consequences. However, like other chronic diseases, with proper treatment it can be effectively managed.¹ If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, biofeedback or neurofeedback therapy, used in combination with other therapies and medication, may be useful as an adjunctive treatment, contributing to treatment success.

What Is Neurofeedback & Biofeedback Therapy?

Neurofeedback and biofeedback are adjunctive treatments designed to increase an individual’s coping skills to improve physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.² 

Biofeedback therapies use non-invasive electrical devices with biomonitoring systems and sensors to monitor different functions within the body’s nervous system, including:^2,4 

• Heart rate variability.
• Breath rate.
• Muscle tension.
• Skin temperature.
• Blood pressure.

Neurofeedback, or electroencephalography (EEG), is a specific type of biofeedback that monitors central nervous system activity via brain waves from electrodes placed on the scalp to help people consciously control their brain waves.^2-4 

The specialized equipment used in biofeedback and neurofeedback therapies converts physiological signals into meaningful audio and visual cues. Biofeedback works to help individuals recognize and change specific functions in the body because biofeedback provides real-time information regarding heart and respiration rate, skin temperature, and heart rate variability. By learning how to control these automatic body functions, individuals can make necessary changes to help self-regulate.⁴

Biofeedback vs. Neurofeedback: What’s the Difference Exactly?

Both biofeedback and neurofeedback involve the use of noninvasive equipment to provide real-time data to help individuals learn to voluntarily control various physiological processes that were once believed to be involuntary.^2-4

As previously mentioned, neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that specifically focuses on brain wave regulation.^2-4

Biofeedback in all of its forms, including neurofeedback, is performed by a trained professional who offers specific exercises, interventions, and guidance to help individuals learn self-regulation to gain control over their bodies and minds.²

What Conditions Is Biofeedback Therapy Used to Treat?

Biofeedback, including neurofeedback, has shown promising results when used as an adjunctive treatment for conditions that affect impulsivity, emotional regulation, and arousal. This includes a variety of conditions, including:^3-5

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Anxiety disorders.
• Epilepsy.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Depressive disorders.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Stress, including medical conditions that are worsened by stress.
• Addiction, or substance use disorder (SUD).

How Does a Biofeedback Session Work?

Biofeedback therapy can look different depending on the specific form of feedback being utilized. However, in most cases, a biofeedback session starts with a trained practitioner placing electrodes or other sensors on various locations of an individual’s body—all designed to provide real-time feedback that the individual and the practitioner can see and/or hear.⁴

The individual receives guidance from the practitioner to help them regulate their breathing, heart rate, muscles, etc. based on the feedback. Biofeedback also helps individuals recognize the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to their physiology so they can make changes and adjustments to self-regulate without feedback in the future.⁴ 

In many cases, the practitioner combines biofeedback with other interventions as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Biofeedback may enhance the efficacy of these other interventions, which may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness training.⁶

How Does Biofeedback Therapy Help Substance Use Disorders?

Biofeedback may be useful as an adjunct intervention to help people with a variety of concerns related to substance misuse and addiction.⁶ Limited research suggests that biofeedback may be able to play a role in helping to reduce cravings, anxiety, and depression in people with substance use disorders.^7-9 Research is still ongoing to see how to best incorporate biofeedback techniques into treatment, but there have been promising early results showing that it may help with hyperarousal and reducing impulsivity and risk taking.¹⁰

As a potential adjunctive treatment, biofeedback may be used as part of a more complete treatment plan that includes more traditional therapeutic methods, including CBT and pharmacological tools, to treat addiction.⁶ When used together, CBT and biofeedback can complement each other, assisting individuals in identifying potential triggers, reducing cravings, and helping them cope with stress—all of which can make a person more vulnerable to relapse.⁸ 

While CBT helps individuals build the skills to improve relapse prevention, biofeedback can provide them with a specific strategy to help them manage stress and change their behavioral reactions.^7,9 

Biofeedback may also be used as part of an integrated treatment plan for co-occurring disorders. Mental health disorders such as ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, and depression often co-occur with addiction, and biofeedback may improve symptoms associated with both substance use and certain mental health disorders. Controlling breathing, for instance, can bring down heart rate and blood pressure, which may help pacify feelings of anxiety and produce calming results.^3,7,10

How Effective Is Biofeedback Therapy in Addiction Treatment?

As previously mentioned, some research suggests that biofeedback may be beneficial as an adjunct in addiction treatment in terms of reducing cravings and helping people manage stress and regulate emotions.⁷ One review of biofeedback’s use in the treatment of substance use disorders reported a reduction in impulsivity, hyperarousal, and risk-taking behaviors in individuals with alcohol use disorder and decreased smoking and cravings in people with nicotine addiction.¹¹

Another review indicates that employing specific forms of biofeedback—specifically, neurofeedback that targets certain brain waves—in conjunction with other therapies in a residential treatment program, may enhance the positive outcomes of those therapies in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, stimulant use, and polysubstance use.¹²

Find Rehabs That May Offer Biofeedback Near Me

If you or a loved one struggles with substance use and addiction, American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. In addition to conventional, evidence-based treatments, AAC also offers various forms of biofeedback therapy at some of the treatment centers located throughout the United States.

At Desert Hope Treatment Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, biofeedback is just one of the many therapies that may be used in combination with other therapies, such as CBT, to enhance the outcomes of therapy. Additionally, Greenhouse Treatment Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area offers a biosound chair that incorporates biofeedback as one of the amenities in the residential addiction treatment program.

To learn more about rehabs that offer biofeedback, call to speak to a knowledgeable admissions navigator, who can answer your questions about biofeedback and other therapies, explain your treatment options, and help you verify your insurance coverage for treatment.

Is Biofeedback Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Most health insurance providers cover treatment for substance use disorders to some extent, but the specifics of what’s covered and for how long varies from plan to plan. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) states that mental and behavioral health treatment, including substance use disorder treatment, is an essential benefit, meaning that most health insurance plans—and all plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace—must cover mental health and substance use disorder services.¹³ 

To understand the details of your coverage, contact your insurance carrier using the number on the back of your card or verify your benefits here.

Finding a Treatment Approach That Works for You

Treatment can look different for everyone and should be personalized to meet your unique needs and preferences because what works for one may not work for another.¹⁴

For some, biofeedback may be a useful complement to a comprehensive addiction treatment program that also utilizes evidence-based therapies and interventions, which may include:¹⁴

• Medications to treat alcohol or opioid use disorder.
• CBT to help people change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)/motivational interviewing (MI) to improve a person’s intrinsic motivation to make healthy life changes.
• Contingency management (CM), which provides positive reinforcement, such as tangible goods or cash, to people who achieve target goals like a negative drug test.

Consult your primary care physician, mental healthcare provider, or an addiction care specialist who can assess your needs and inform your treatment plan. AAC’s treatment centers customize treatment plans for each individual and utilize evidence-based and complementary therapies to treat addiction.

If you’d like to learn about your rehab options, call to connect with a compassionate admissions navigator, who can help you begin your recovery journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Neurofeedback Therapy