PTSD: Reduced Affective Response in Clients
Neurenics clients report a reduction or amelioration of unwanted emotion in clinical PTSD and also in situations of negotiation. They experience having more control and outcomes are better and the process is smoother and everyone benefits. This is possibly a marker of change in the metabolism of the amygdala in the limbic system of the brain and suggests a larger scientific controlled study in the future.
Background and Experience
Dr. Browne enjoys his interest in neuroplasticity. He has studied extensively how the human nervous system system operates through neurochemical synapses between neurons. When an electrical charge exceeds a threshold an “action potential” or impulse fires and travels down the neural fiber carrying a signal to other neurons that results in a cognitive, emotional, sensory perception or neuromuscular action. This is how we see, hear, create memories and function. Dr. Browne is trained and experienced in therapeutic interventions, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of a wide range of disorders plus non-clinical training for optimization. He is a Board Certified Senior Fellow in Neurofeedback and Biofeedback. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) controls automatic functions of activity, including blood circulation, heart rate variability and synchrony with respiration. He is also Board Certified in Quantified Electroencephalography (QEEG), the technology of recording whole brain activity and topographic mapping utilizing 19 electrodes on specific points on the scalp surface using the 1020 International System.
Publications
He has published a book describing a randomized, controlled study of 30 Type A Personality individuals with premature cardiac symptoms. This work is titled; ”Psychophysiological Medicine: A Measurable Metamorphosis for Type A Executives” (2012 Maunsell Academica Press). This research had positive results that suggested that this kind of treatment was beneficial in reducing harmful consequences of excessively driven individuals. Results can be replicated and potentially generalized to the wider population. Measures that were improved included the reduction of hypertension or high blood pressure, hostility, and an increased ability to be relaxed. Some individuals had suffered multiple myocardial infarctions, bypass surgeries and other circulation issues. This work was performed with consultation from a cardiologist and other physicians and established the author’s dedication to this area of Behavioral Medicine.
Professional Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology
As past-President and Executive Director of the Biofeedback Society of California Dr. Browne has published numerous articles in the professional quarterly publication “California Biofeedback”. His Professional Neurofeedback practice called “Neurenics” is in San Francisco where he trains clients and patients in how to improve attention, reduce the stress response, and is a “treating physician” for California State Fund Workers’ Compensation system specializing in pain and traumatic injury. He helps injured workers rehabilitate and return to the workplace. He has also worked with the Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group as a psychologist implementing Motivational Interviewing for addiction, in an Addiction Medicine setting.
Dr. Browne has lectured and made presentations in Californian and European hospitals and a wide range of groups. He was a visiting professor at Stanford University, The University of California, Berkeley, and San Francisco State University. He has presented at numerous national conventions of the Association of Applied Psychophysiology (AAPB) throughout the United States and in Europe including the Training Hospital of the Frije University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is a member of the Northern California Neuropsychology Forum. Dr. Browne was awarded a special honor by the American Physicians of Indian Origin (South-East Asian) and won the John Kern Scholarship for study of international cultures that took him for a number of months of applied study to Chennai, India.
Personal Statement
“Neurenics is the name and identity of that side of my practice that utilizes the applied technology of Professional Neurofeedback for use in reducing the negative effects of a variety of issues. I utilize neuromuscular calming, optimal neural functioning, and attention and enhancement of focus. This is in addition to my clinical psychology practice with outpatients with diagnoses and specific medical and psychological diagnoses. The addition of Neurofeedback into a regimen of clinical psychotherapy is like adding a turbo effect to an engine and it can accelerate dynamic healing and progress in a shorter period of time. This is “Neurofeedback enhanced psychotherapy”. Neurenics clients receive Neurofeedback treatment and training for issues related to optimal brain function, ease of decision-making and the enhanced experience of life that it provides.
This is a unique and fresh approach with an experienced licensed psychologist and applied neuroscientist, in the one practitioner. The level of expertise and credentials singles out Neurenics from other approaches. Neurenics is a methodology offering a unique and specific combination of expertise, consciousness expansion, neuromuscular calming and expert interpersonal consultation. Neurofeedback is efficacious in providing the individual with direct access and connection with subconscious and unconscious material and this perception allows the individual to acquire a clearer perception and the ability to change and resolve issues that are diminishing their neural functioning, decision-making and attention span. There is a noticeable difference between pre- and post- measures that is correlated with successful outcomes and the majority of clients experience dynamic change and improvement”.
Dr. Browne has being doing this work since 1990 and has completed hundreds of brain maps and treated a thousand or more individuals over that period of time. He is a world authority in his chosen field of work and is a member of various international professional groups including The American Psychological Association (APA).
Physician’s Statement
Below, Naras Bhat, M.D. comments on the usefulness of Professional Neurofeedback low frequency training to ameliorate excessive Type A characteristics.
Clinical Study Results
Dr. Browne has designed and successfully completed a number of scientific studies in the field of neurofeedback and biofeedback applications and two of these are listed here.
1. In the 1990s he replicated the Peniston-Kulkosky protocol that showed significant reduction in PTSD and use of substances in a VA hospital. Dr. Browne’s outcomes validated the effectiveness of this intervention. Abstinence for up to two years was recorded for 70% of Dr. Browne’s study participants. This was carried out in Marin County, California.
2. Another larger study was a controlled randomized trial (CRT) with 30 Type A Personality individuals with stress-related cardiac disorders such as hypertension, multiple heart attacks and/or bypass surgeries, at a young age. He provided Theta training Neurofeedback (NF) to one group, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) training to a second group and the third group served as the Control Group and did not received any treatment. Overall, the group that received Theta Nerofeedback (NF) reported significantly greater reduction in measures of stress, anxiety, and time pressure than the HRV group. Time Pressure is regarded as a central component of stress or strain and is where an important task must be accomplished in a limited, and perhaps insufficient amount of time. Deadlines impose elevated demands that are physical, psychological, and emotional, and impact behavior that can have effects on the individual under pressure and others. The groups who received NF and HRV showed improved health and well-being but, differed in measures of change in emotionality. The NF group reported deeper intrapersonal experience and the HRV group reported a more interpersonal connection with others. In addition, the NF group reported feeling measurably more relaxed, calm, and with a greater appreciation of their own undiscovered abilities and perceptions. They reported the greatest reduction in Anxiety, (tension, worry, nervousness), and Depression. High levels of Anxiety can produce panic attacks and phobic reactions. Reduced Hostility was also reported together with reduced Heart Rate. This carefully designed study confirmed validity of NF in reduction of stress, strain, and Time Pressure in Type A Personality individuals together with a better ability to become relaxed and calm, over time.