"Equipping social workers on sleep health and evidence-based sleep interventions is an important first place to start," states researcher Dr. Spadola in a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. This research, conducted by a team of scientists from across the United States, highlights the potential of neurofeedback training as an engaging, sleep-focused adjunctive treatment for patients struggling with substance misuse.
Substance misuse is a critical public health concern affecting millions worldwide, with sleep disturbances often exacerbating the problem. As Neurobit's specialty lies in sleep conditions, symptom detection, and sleep event labeling, the findings of this study are highly relevant to our mission. The researchers discovered that incorporating neurofeedback training into the treatment plan significantly improved the patients' self-regulation skills, reduced impulsivity, and increased adherence to treatment while addressing sleep issues.
The study included 84 participants with substance misuse disorders who were randomly assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU) or treatment as usual plus neurofeedback (TAU+NFB) groups. Both groups received comprehensive substance misuse treatment, while the TAU+NFB group benefited from additional neurofeedback training sessions. The results demonstrated that the TAU+NFB group experienced substantially better treatment outcomes, including improved self-regulation skills, reduced impulsivity, and enhanced sleep health.
These promising findings emphasize the need to integrate innovative, sleep-focused interventions, such as neurofeedback training, into standard treatment protocols for substance misuse disorders. However, the implementation of neurofeedback training in clinical settings can be challenging due to high costs and limited availability of specialized equipment and expertise.
To overcome these obstacles, Neurobit offers a range of products designed to facilitate the adoption of neurofeedback training in substance misuse treatment programs while prioritizing sleep health:
Neurobit Score: An AI and deep learning cloud-based platform that accurately analyzes and interprets neurofeedback data, allowing clinicians to monitor sleep health and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Z3 Pulse: A wearable EEG device that pairs with NeurobitScore to provide real-time neurofeedback and guidance for patients, enabling them to learn self-regulation skills, improve their treatment outcomes, and address sleep disturbances.
Neurobit Hub: A research and academia-oriented platform that streamlines the collection and analysis of large datasets, fostering the discovery of novel biomarkers and sleep-focused treatment strategies for substance misuse disorders.
This study highlights the potential benefits of incorporating engaging, sleep-centered neurofeedback training into substance misuse treatment plans. Our cutting-edge technology at Neurobit can help facilitate the adoption of neurofeedback training in clinical settings, contributing to improved treatment outcomes and ultimately enhancing the lives of those struggling with substance misuse and sleep disturbances.
If you would like to learn more, try our technology, collaborate with us, or support our mission to accelerate the development of innovative technologies for the early detection and treatment of disorders, such as substance misuse and sleep disorders, to improve health for all, please get in touch with us.
Email us at Research@Neurobit.com
Citation
Spadola, C. E., Wagner, E., Slavish, D. C., Washburn, M., Ogeil, R. P., Burke, S. L., Grudzien, A., & Zhou, E. S. (2023). Sleep and substance use: Practice considerations for social workers. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 23(1), 24–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2022.2159642