Effects of EEG Biofeedback Therapy on Negative Symptoms, Social Functioning, and Cognitive Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective: To observe the effects of conventional psychiatric medication combined with EEG biofeedback therapy on negative symptoms, social functioning, and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Patients with schizophrenia hospitalized at Xuancheng Fourth People’s Hospital between December 2023 and December 2024 were selected as study subjects. Assessments were conducted using a general demographic questionnaire, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, the Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale before the intervention, as well as at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Results: The MoCA scores of the two groups showed statistically significant differences in time effect, group effect, and time × group interaction effect (F=79.76, 6.43, 8.52, respectively; p<0.01). The SANS, ADL, and SDSS scores of both groups demonstrated statistically significant time effects (F=42.83, 13.79, 17.92, respectively; all p<0.01), but no statistically significant group effects (F=0.05, 2.28, 0.25, respectively; all p>0.05). However, the SANS, ADL, and SDSS scores showed statistically significant time × group interaction effects (F=25.86, 13.28, 14.90, respectively; all p<0.01). Further simple effect analysis revealed that at 8 and 12 weeks of intervention, the observation group had significantly lower SANS, ADL, and SDSS scores compared to the control group, with statistically significant differences (p<0.01). Conclusion: Conventional psychiatric medication combined with EEG biofeedback therapy can improve negative symptoms, daily living ability, social functioning, and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia.