ReviewFrontiers in psychiatry2025
Neurofeedback in substance and non substance-related addictions: a mini review of current evidence and future directions.
Review in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Neuroimaging in Addiction: Principles of Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy and Its Emerging Role in De-addiction: A Narrative Review.Annals of neurosciences · 2026Review
- The Effects of Abstinence status and Sleep Quality on Resting State Alpha Power in Cocaine Use Disorder.Clinical EEG and neuroscience · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Neurofeedback (NF) is emerging as a promising adjunctive intervention for substance use disorders (SUDs) and behavioral addictions. By providing real-time feedback on brain activity, NF enables individuals to self-regulate neural circuits implicated in craving, reward processing, and executive control. This mini review synthesizes recent evidence regarding the efficacy, mechanisms, and clinical applications of NF in addiction treatment. Addiction remains a major public health concern characterized by high relapse rates and limited long-term success from pharmacological and psychosocial therapies, underscoring the need for innovative approaches. Studies included in this review were identified through PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the terms "neurofeedback," "EEG," "fMRI," "addiction," "substance use disorder," "behavioral addiction," and "craving," with priority given to publications from 2019-2025. Two primary NF modalities have been examined: electroencephalography (EEG)-based and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based neurofeedback. EEG-NF, particularly the alpha-theta protocol, has demonstrated reductions in craving, anxiety, and relapse rates among individuals with alcohol and substance dependence. fMRI-NF enables targeted modulation of addiction-related brain regions, such as the insula and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with region-specific but variable clinical effects. Systematic reviews indicate that NF, especially EEG-based, reliably reduces craving and improves psychological outcomes, though methodological heterogeneity limits generalizability. Recent advances integrating NF with biofeedback and machine learning approaches suggest potential for personalized and multimodal interventions. Overall, NF represents a promising, neuroscience-informed adjunct in addiction treatment, warranting large-scale controlled trials to establish efficacy and optimize clinical application.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.