Sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback training in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: report of two cases

Several studies showed the usefulness of the electroencephalographic-neurofeedback (EEG-NF) targeting sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) in treating different psychiatric conditions. However, the evidence concerning borderline personality disorder (BPD) is still poor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of EEG-NF targeting SMR in two patients with BPD. Both patients received 10 sessions of neurofeedback (NF). Before and after the sessions they were administered psychological and neuropsychological tests including the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), the Trial Making Test A-B (TMT A-B), and the Symbol Digit Test (SDT). Moreover, the EEG activity was recorded with the electrodes placed in frontal and parietal areas. After the sessions both patients obtained an improvement in psychopathological symptoms, in impulsiveness and in cognitive performances. Furthermore, the SMR and the SMR/Theta Ratio increased in both patients in both the eyes open and eyes closed conditions, especially in frontal areas. Our results support the usefulness of SMR EEG-NF in the treatment of BPD.