ALPHA-THETA TRAINING
IT'S USE IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY

Bert Anderson, Ph.D.

My name is Bert Anderson and I reside and practice biofeedback and
neurofeedback in Redlands, California (USA).  I first read the papers
"alpha-theta Brainwave Training and beta-Endorphin Levels in
Alcoholics" and "Alcoholic Personality and Alpha-Theta Brainwave
Training," by Eugene G. Peniston and Paul J. Kulkosky in early 1991.
Mostly because of convincing data related to mood, not believing that
it would effect my liking for alcoholic beverages, I began training
myself in what I believed at the time was the protocol used by
Peniston.

This training was with a Biocomp 2001 instrument with leads modified
to record beta, alpha and theta bands on 3 separate channels.  The
positions of the electrodes was O1 to O2 (ground to Fp2) and because I
did not completely understand Peniston's protocol I began only with
alpha training.  Further, I did not use the alcohol rejection imagery
(which is considered an important part of the protocol) as I did not
believe myself to be an alcoholic.  I trained for 30 minute sessions 1
to 3 times per week as time allowed.

By Session 10 I experienced a significant elevation of mood, to the
extent that I signed up for actual training in the method at the
Menninger Clinic in May 1991.  By the mid-July I had lost all interest
in drinking alcohol in any form and it actually seemed offensive to
me.  Unlike the use of disulfiram, I experienced no craving whatever,
and small quantities of alcohol in food or via experimental sips did
not make me sick.

I consider the alpha-theta training engaged in at that time to have
been very positive.  By the end of the 30 sessions my mood elevation
had increased, I experienced no normal bodily pains (although I was
over 60 years of age), I did not need glasses to read, and there was
an outpouring of creative energy expressed in the production of
written material and computer graphics as much as the software I was
using would allow.

A final effect seems to have been on my immune system.  Although I
would have sinus infections 3 to 4 times per years prior to treatment,
I have had no infections or discomfort for more than a few hours since
treatment.  I have, however, experienced some colds and flu.

Based on the Peniston-Kulkosky research, the Menninger training and my
own experience, I believe I had every right to expect similar results
with alcohol and drug addicted individuals and established my out-
patient practice around this treatment in 1992.

Some notable successes and notable failures led me to draw some
conclusions which I shared at an Advanced Brainwave Training Institute
in the February 1994 in Topeka, Kansas.  What follows is taken from my
presentation notes:

The private practitioner in the one to one situation with the alcohol
or drug abusing client cannot assume the application of Gene
Peniston's protocol in isolation from other treatment will replicate
Peniston's research results.

Peniston's population was very homogenous.  All males, middle aged, 20
year histories of alcohol abuse, repeated failures in treatment. My
population, on the other hand, was very diverse and "one of
everything" whether measuring demographics, alcohol and/or drug use
patterns or brainwaves.

Alcohol and drug abuse is only the "icing on the cake."  It is the
last problem in a whole series or constellation of problems.  (And of
course, it may not be the "last problem" as abuse causes problems of
its own.)

I was assuming that because of the changes in depression and other
personality factors which Peniston showed in his research, that I
could take a 'wait and see' approach to psychological problems which
my patients were presenting.  This proved to be a wrong assumption.

The population I worked with is typically AA resistant, middle and
upper middle class.  They have limited their treatment options by
rejecting hospital inpatient programs that will take them out of
circulation for two weeks or a month.  Ideally, they want a program
that will solve their problem with a limited time commitment, no
groups, with as a little loss of dignity as possible.

As I believe anyone familiar with recovery concepts can see in the
above statement, the alpha-theta treatment in these circumstances
becomes part of the denial system.

It is my observation that all clients who engaged in alpha-theta
training in my private practice environment received substantial
benefit from the training.  The training eased withdrawal symptoms and
there were very few incidences of relapse during treatment. Only two,
both alcoholics, exhibited resistance to training.  Both people
relapsed shortly after treatment.  Best results to treatment appear to
have been with those suffering from methamphetamine abuse.

My conclusions from this two year experiment was that the Peniston-
Kulkosky protocol provides many benefits to the recovering individual,
including inducing an actual aversion in some individuals and
elevation of mood, but is inappropriate as a singular treatment
modality.

I would recommend to any in- or outpatient organization contemplating
the alpha-theta protocol that it be used in conjunction with broad
based recovery program such as 12 Step.

Evaluation of the patient should include a general life history
including family history of alcoholism, depression, Tourettes, eating
disorders and hyperactivity; family abuse, accidents and injuries,
particularly head injuries, psychological trauma, anxiety or panic
disorder, and seizures.  This, of course, will be in addition to
substance abuse history.

Evaluation should include testing for psychological and personality
factors.  I found the Alcohol Use Inventory quite helpful in treatment
recommendations.

A psychophysical (biofeedback) evaluation will be looking for patterns
of chronic arousal which should be addressed prior to brain wave
training.  Use of an assessment form, temperature, skin conductance,
muscle tension, heart rate and breathing pattern and rate should be
used.

Finally, a neuro-electrical (EEG) profile evaluation to determine
baseline characteristics, electrode placement, training protocol and
feedback training thresholds needs to be made.

From this evaluation the clinical psychophysiologist can make a four-
fold diagnostic assessment, each with treatment implications.

It is the clinical psychophysiologist's job to present a treatment
plan which defines the role of neurofeedback therapy as part of an
overall recovery plan.  My own belief is that a recovery plan should
include active 12 Step participation for at least one year following
neurofeedback treatment and psychotherapy.  Our job is to help
undermine the denial system ("All I need is this brainwave training
and all my problems will disappear") and direct the patient into an
overall recovery program.

The reader will note that I have said nothing about treatment
procedure, but it is evident to me that alpha-theta training may
>>not<< be appropriate for all patients, especially for attention
deficit, Tourettes and head injured patients.   It must be avoided
altogether for patients with a history of seizures.  It may be
appropriate only for "Peniston type" patients and other EEG protocols
considered on a case by case basis for others.

Neurofeedback training is very much in its infancy as a discipline. At
this point in time it is evident that this is a much more complex
undertaking than I and many others believed it to be four years ago.
The Peniston-Kulkosky studies should be considered as a beginning
point, as indeed it was, not a final, or even acceptable, solution to
alcohol and drug abuse treatment in and of itself.

Bert Anderson, Ph.D.
71652,3673
Internet:
Bert Anderson
71652.3673@compuserve.com