OBJECTIVE
To assess the tolerability and safety of using high-tech software complexes with biofeedback (BF) via a brain—computer interface (BCI) in the recovery of patients after a stroke, based on an analysis of neuropsychological examination data.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 100 stroke patients: 40 patients in the main group, 40 patients in the comparison group, and 20 patients in the control group. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used. In the main group, sessions were conducted using BCI-BF1 based on the P300 potential; in the comparison group, sessions were conducted using BCI-BF2 based on the mu-rhythm of electroencephalography (EEG); control group patients received standard of care.
RESULTS
Improvement of the symptoms was reported; no «aggravation/increase» of the existing symptoms or the occurrence of new symptoms was observed, which indicated good tolerance of using BCI-BF1 and BCI-BF2. The results of the assessment on the BDI, HARS, and HDRS scales showed a statistically significant improvement, indicating the regression of existing affective disorders corresponding to the level of minor disorders, namely «subclinical anxiety/depression» (p<0.001). When assessing the BDI and HDRS scales, a statistically significant decrease in the scores for the subscale of affective-cognitive disorders was found in the main group (p=0.002) and in the comparison group (p<0.001). MoCA score showed no decrease from the baseline score of 25 or more: in the main group, there was an increase in the median total score (p=0.014); in the comparison group, there was no change (p=0.683).
CONCLUSION
Treatment with BCI-BF1 based on P300 and BCI-BF2 based on the EEG mu-rhythm was safe in patients in the recovery period of stroke, showed good tolerance, did not cause the occurrence or increase of affective disorders, and did not reduce the MoCA score.
