Sequential Prefrontal Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback on Abstinence Self-Efficacy, Mindfulness, and EEG in Alcohol Use Disorder (NFB-AUD)

May 11, 2026 updated by: Yerin Hong, Seoul University of Buddhism

Effects of Sequential Prefrontal Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback Training on Abstinence Self-Efficacy, Mindfulness, and EEG in Alcohol Use Disorder

This study examined the effects of sequential prefrontal alpha-theta neurofeedback training on abstinence self-efficacy, mindfulness, and brain electroencephalography (EEG) activity in adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Participants in the experimental group received 24 sessions of neurofeedback over 8 weeks (3 sessions per week, 30 minutes per session), while a control group received no intervention. EEG and self-report measures were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

17

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • South Korea
      • Seoul, South Korea
        • Neurofeedback Training Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adults diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria
  2. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korean (AUDIT-K) score >= 20 (males) or >= 10 (females) indicating high-risk drinking
  3. Voluntary written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Sensory impairment (visual or auditory)
  2. Diagnosis of intellectual disability
  3. Current use of antipsychotics, central nervous system stimulants, or sedatives
  4. Active neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, recent traumatic brain injury)
  5. Severe psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., active psychosis) contraindicated for EEG-based neurofeedback

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sequential Prefrontal Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback
24 sessions of sequential prefrontal alpha-theta neurofeedback training over 8 weeks (3 sessions/week, 30 min/session). Each session: 5 min alpha feedback (8-12 hertz [Hz]) followed by 25 min theta feedback (4-7 Hz) at Fp1/Fp2, delivered via ocean wave and birdsong audio while eyes closed. Device: Power Nap (Neuro21, Korea).
Behavioral: Sequential Prefrontal Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback Training
Operant conditioning-based neurofeedback: 5 min alpha (8-12 Hz) + 25 min theta (4-7 Hz) at prefrontal sites Fp1/Fp2 per session; 24 sessions over 8 weeks supervised by a certified practitioner. Audio feedback (ocean waves for alpha, birdsong for theta) delivered via Power Nap device (Neuro21, Korea) while participants remained eyes-closed and seated.
No Intervention: Control - No Intervention
Participants continued usual daily activities for 8 weeks without any intervention. Pre- and post-test assessments (EEG and self-report measures) were conducted.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Abstinence Self-Efficacy
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
Total score on the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (AASE; Korean adaptation), a 20-item scale with four subscales (Negative Affect, Social/Positive Emotions, Physical and Other Concerns, Withdrawal and Urges), each rated 0-4; higher scores indicate greater confidence in maintaining abstinence.
Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mindfulness
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
Total score on the Mindfulness Scale (20 items, 4 subscales: Decentered Attention, Nonjudgmental Acceptance, Present-Moment Awareness, Attentional Focus), rated 1-5 (reverse-scored); higher scores indicate greater mindfulness.
Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
EEG Relative Power
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
Relative spectral power (% of total power) across delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (13-30 Hz), and sensorimotor rhythm (SMR; 12-15 Hz) bands at prefrontal sites (Fp1, Fp2), measured using eyes-closed resting EEG with the NeuroBrain system.
Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Seoul University of Buddhism

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 25, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

September 25, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 11, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 27004121AN01-202406-HR-080-02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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