B – 67 Enhancing Executive and Emotional Functioning in PTSD: A Feasibility Trial of EEG Neurofeedback in Inpatient Care

Objective This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of EEG-based neurofeedback training (NFT), delivered using the InteraXon Muse™ headband, in enhancing cognitive and emotional regulation among inpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, we examined whether NFT could improve executive function and PTSD symptom severity within a specialized trauma treatment setting. Method Data were collected from an open-label feasibility trial at Homewood Health Centre, an inpatient PTSD treatment facility in Guelph, Ontario. Participants self-selected into either treatment-as-usual (TAU; n = 21) or a 4-week NFT condition (n = 28), in which EEG-based NFT was administered using the portable InteraXon Muse™ headband. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included neuropsychological and clinical measures. Neuropsychological outcomes included the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Tower and Trail Making Tests, paired associate learning tasks, and a high-interference memory task. Clinical measures included the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Participants in the NFT condition showed significant improvements in task-switching (F(1, 45) = 4.69, p = .036), planning efficiency (F(1, 45) = 4.37, p = .042), and associative memory (F(1, 45) = 5.91, p = .020). Sleep quality improved in both groups (F(1, 45) = 6.28, p = .011), with greater gains in the NFT condition. Cognitive improvements were positively correlated with neurofeedback session attendance. Conclusion EEG-based neurofeedback delivered via a portable headband appears feasible and promising for cognitive and emotional rehabilitation in PTSD. Future trials are needed to assess long-term efficacy and mechanisms.