This week, I was able to reflect on my idea and seek
fundamental changes to ensure that my topic is intriguing and researchable
enough to pursue. After the conversation with my peers, I realized there was a
big problem if I wanted to compare ADHD neurofeedback therapy and prescription
medication if I was attempting to conduct my own research at the clinic.
Because the clinic I work at does not give out medication and instead my boss
writes a referral to procure medicine elsewhere, I would have to compare any
studies I do at the clinic with past ones I find in research articles online,
making sure that variables like gender, age, and ethnicity are kept relatively
constant. Ultimately, I think the task would be too complicated and I would
rather refine my topic to compare younger children and adults who have
undergone neurofeedback therapy, as I can access that information and hopefully
get patient permission. While the comparison to prescription medication would
be interesting to look into, and am open to any idea that will make the process
possible within my resources, I think that to restrict my idea to just
neurofeedback therapy would prove more feasible. Is this course of action
reasonable? Please comment a response to this, because I am not 100% sure if I am
being honest.
For collecting sources, I plan to specifically look into
research about brain areas (Brodman Areas) and the 10/20 brain location system
that my clinic uses to identify which areas of the brain need the most help. To
clarify what an EEG was in my last post, it stands for “electroencephalogram”
and is essentially a test used to detect brain electrical activity/waves
through the use of electrodes that direct signals to a computer. EEGs and QEEGs
(quantified EEGs or brain mapping/brain function interpretation) are both
methods of observing data and trends that I have been looking into to portray
success or failure of therapy. Additionally, I have been contacting my boss
about having access to the various timed logic and word association tests that
the clinic uses to assess patient’s mentally. I have been reading articles from
the British Medical Journal and Neurology Journal to garner more information
generally about brain structure and function. Also, I have been looking into
TOVA (Test of Variables of Attention) and ADHD diagnoses to better understand
the mental disorder overall. I have also tried to research about OCD and
depression, trying to make sure that my scope is not too limited with focusing
on ADHD, but also wary of encompassing two disorders being too much for a
single paper. As I collect more sources,
I will decide which additional mental disorder I should focus on and is the
most impacted, or if I should just concentrate on ADHD (which so far with
preliminary research is already emerging as the dominant disorder treated with
neurofeedback therapy). With regards to the therapy itself, as I learn more
about it and how it is conducted (past and present), I can hopefully narrow
down my question, exploring its flaws and merits.
So, right now I am still in the reading and thinking
stage, but I have a pretty solid
starting point and area of interest to advance and am looking forward to modify
my topic more with additional feedback.
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Sunskruthi, first, be sure to include the word count. You clearly made it to 400 words, but just be sure to include it for me, please.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I think that your plan does sound feasible, but the best person to answer that would be your contact at the clinic. Would they let you access patient data, so long as patient names are removed? They're going to be the decision-makers on that front, so reach out sooner rather than later. If they can't do that, you can always move to talk to practitioners about their experience with neurofeedback therapy. Let me know if this helps.
First, I think the topic of neuro-feedback therapy is really interesting and if it works in making brain function more effective, it could really make a difference in those affected by attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders. I did a project last year on Psychotherapy vs. Pharmacotherapy with regards to teens who were self harming due to feelings of depression or anxiety. I think looking at the two different treatments for ADHD, neuro-feedback and prescription drugs, could be really interesting. If you did do something like that though, you would likely have to look at only ADHD. I think all of your ideas are interesting, but regardless of which you choose, you’ll probably have to stick to doing research on one brain condition.
ReplyDeleteIf you do the comparison of neuro-feedback therapy in adults versus children, I think you have to consider what the significance of your solution would be. In my mind, they obviously have to be very different treatments simply because the brain of an adult is so much more developed than that of a child or even a teenager. If you evaluated those differences, what would you hope to accomplish in your research?
Overall, I think you’re headed in the right direction, and it’s good to know that you’re thinking of your research almost in terms of how you can build upon what you’re already doing.
I like your question. It's always good to frame what we're doing in terms of real-world applications.
Deletehey sunskruthi so first off i think neurofeedback sounds like an interesting topic and it seems more feasible than also looking into prescription medication but like mrs haag said i really think you have to ask your clinic about that bc they would probably know what is doable. if it is feasible, looking at prescription drugs as well could be really interesting and nuanced. i think you might also have to stick to one brain condition but tbh this is something you need to talk to your clinic about pretty soon so you know what direction you can go in. maybe you could do neurofeedback and prescription drugs and only one brain condition, or just neurofeedback and two brain conditions, or maybe only doing neurfeedback and one brain condition is feasible. that’s something to talk to your boss or whomever about. which one would you rather do?
ReplyDeleteps sorry if this comment doesn't make sense i forgot language again smh