Galina Mindlin
Mount Sinai, USA
Title: Short-term effectiveness and acceptability of “Brain Music Therapy†(BMT), a self-guided neurofeedback intervention for anxious insomniacs
Biography
Biography: Galina Mindlin
Abstract
Objective: This uncontrolled pilot study assessed short-term effectiveness and acceptability of “brain music therapy” (BMT), a self-guided neurofeedback intervention for anxious insomniacs.
Methods: Following baseline assessment, volunteers (n=15) with clinically significant insomnia and anxiety underwent EEG. Slow and fast wave brain patterns were converted to piano music tacks and transferred to CD’s. Participants were instructed to use their personalized CDs to facilitate sleep and anxiety reduction (relaxing track) or to stimulate focus and alertness (activating track) on a daily basis. Repeated measures of sleep (PIRS), anxiety (STAI), daytime functioning (DFT) and quality of life (QOL) were taken at weeks 0, 3 and 6.
Results: Participants were middle-aged (43.9/11.4), Caucasian (60.0%) females (66.7%) who were college educated (100%) and employed (93.4%). ANOVA showed significant changes on measures of sleep, anxiety and DFT (i.e., fewer negative effects); no changes were found for DTF (i.e., more positive effects) or for QOL. Intervention acceptance was high, with participants reporting easy use, helpfulness and willingness to refer friends with similar problems.
Conclusions: Results provide preliminary support for BMT as a treatment for anxious insomnia. The intervention is user friendly, while eliminating the need for potentially dangerous hypnotics and repeat visits to psychotherapists.