Concerns About ADD/ADHD Medications Grow
14 March 2005
MINDFITNESS®
a BioFeedBack Resources International e-mail newsletter
edited by Harry L. Campbell, BCIA, NRBS President
technical editing and production by Edwin Johnson

Welcome to MINDFITNESS®, BioFeedBack Resources International and Health Training Seminars’ newsletter, a free e-mail service that keeps you posted on new information and products which increase the effectiveness of the services you offer, the economic health of your practice and your creative thinking. Read on to get great tips for improving client services and expanding your practice, as well as finding out about exciting new content on our web site.

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I.Spring Seminars
II.Concerns About ADD/ADHD Medications Grow
III.Neurofeedback Brain Training in Canada
IV.Extreme Mind/Body control Applications
V.NRBS Spring Conference
VI.Personal Training
VII.A Reminder

1. Spring Seminars

   Biofeedback and Neurofeedback are such powerful tools to add to most any health care practice. They give another option or can be used in conjunction with medication, talk therapy, or surgery in many cases. I don’t suggest that Biofeedback and Neurofeedback be used in place of traditional medical care. They can add to it and make it more effective. There are also many non-medical applications of Biofeedback/Neurofeedback including educational, stress management, and performance enhancement. Many professionals are now using Biofeedback/Neurofeedback in their life coaching practices. Our next seminars that can help you get started and for those who qualify, certified in these areas are as follows:
   Biofeedback – April 8-12, 2005, Tarrytown, NY.
   Neurofeedback – April 15-19, 2005, Tarrytown, NY.
   Visit our web-site: www.biofeedbackinternational.com or call 877-669-6463 or 914-762-4646 ASAP if you are interested in attending

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2. Concerns About ADD/ADHD Medications Grow

   A recent study showed that all 12 child subjects being treated for ADHD using methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD, etc.) showed an increase of 300% in levels of chromosome abnormalities that are associated with increased risks of cancer and other negative health effects. This is not a conclusive study but it adds fuel to the fire of concerns about the possible long-term negative effects of the standard pharmacological traditional course of treatment of ADHD. The effects were seen in just three months after the start of the drug treatment. Over 10 million prescriptions were issued in 1996. Sales for Methylphenidate drugs increased 500% from 1991 and 1999. The lead author Randa A. El-Zein, MD., Ph.D. assistant professor of epidemiology at M.D. performed the blood studies. The principal and senior author and UTMB Professor of Environmental Toxicology Marvin Legator said that this doesn’t mean that these kids are going to get cancer, but it does mean they are exposed to an additional risk factor …

   These researchers from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston reported their findings in the peer-reviewed publication Cancer Letters. It hasn’t been published yet but you can find it on line.

   I still have the belief that ADD/ADHD is highly over diagnosed and that many children are being medicated unnecessarily. Even if there were no risks of serious negative side effects, why would you want to start a child on a medication that they have to take practically every day, possibly for most of their lives? The fact that there is information that says there might be risks should make people hesitate even more to start a child on this treatment as a first and only option. Perhaps at least some of these children could benefit from neurofeedback training. As this type of information surfaces, it may encourage more parents to give neurofeedback a chance to help their children to calm their brains and increase their focus and attention before turning to medications, which may bring with them potential long term risks along with their short term “quick fix”.

   One of the biggest criticisms of neurofeedback is the lack of research. This is ironic because there has been very little research on the potential for serious side effects of the most popular drugs used for ADHD.

   The article is available by going to “Articles in Press” button on Science Direct’s Cancer Letters page:
   http://www.sciencedirct.com/science/journal/03043835

3. Neurofeedback Brain Training in Canada

   Ray Pavlov, M.D. and Nicolina Pavlov, M.D. of Alter-ABC in Montreal are neurofeedback practitioners who were trained by Health Training Seminars several years ago. They also acquired neurofeedback equipment from our company. They are currently working with athletes, business people, and children to help them focus and relax. Information about their work was published in the November 2004 magazine “The Walrus”. They have made it their mission to make neurofeedback more well known so that more people can benefit from it. They are also working towards forming an association of neurofeedback providers in Canada. For more information on the magazine article “The Brain Trainer, How to focus, focus, focus”. Visit:
   http://www.walrusmagazine.com

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4. Extreme Mind/Body control Applications

   The March 2005 Wired Magazine included an article titled “Mind Control”. This article described a patient who is involved in a controversial clinical trail using a brain-computer interface. The system consists of tiny electrodes that are implanted in his brain and connected by wires to a large cart full of electronic equipment. The electrodes pick up signals of brain activity that are associated with arm movements. The equipment then translates this into signals that control devices like a Pong game paddle or computer cursor.

   This type of device may prove useful in situations where neurofeedback is not specific enough for people who are paralyzed. Similar, more basic things can be done with surface EEG sensors for controlling external objects. Pilots may be able to control some of their equipment by changing their brainwave patterns. Some of the systems that are available now offer switch control that can allow the subject to turn various devices on and off by meeting the training goal. For example, with attention training, when the theta/beta or theta/smr ratio meets criteria a toy, light, or other device could be turned on. This could also be expanded to allow control of other devices that might have applications for disabled people. According to the article, the US Department of Defense is funding work on various brain-computer interfaces with the idea of military applications. Hopefully if the technology progresses there will also be more applications to help disabled people. For more information on this article visit:http://www.wired.com

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5. NRBS Spring Conference

   The Northeast Regional Biofeedback Society Spring conference will take place on May 1st in White Plains, NY. A more detailed announcement will be included in another email that will be sent shortly.

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6. Personal Training

   It has been our observation that those biofeedback professionals who spend a significant amount of time training themselves on the modalities that they plan on training their clients on, are much more successful with their clients. It is not enough to know how to apply the sensors, and run the biofeedback equipment. Doing personal training helps you to experience what your clients will experience. Experiential learning is very different from book learning. Much of what goes on during a biofeedback session is not explainable with words. It is very important that you have the experience yourself. Also, why wouldn’t you want to train yourself if you believe in all of the benefits that can come from biofeedback?

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7. A Reminder

   Our new company is BioFeedBack Resources International Corporation. If you were an American Biotec Corporation customer, you can enjoy the same quality products, training, and service from the same team at BRI.

   * Since 1971 our team has led in providing high quality, low prices, and outstanding support to the U.S. and international biofeedback community. We also offer supplies, software, free and paid online training, consulting, and mentoring services in person or over the phone or Internet including video conferencing.

   * Biofeedback and EEG/Neurofeedback Equipment and BCIA Certification Training

   * Harry Campbell, BPS, BCIA, President of Northeast Regional Biofeedback Society

   * Adam Crane, BCIA – Senior Fellow, BCIA EEG

   Phone: 877-669-6463 / 914-762-4646
   www.biofeedbackinternational.com

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