Objective: to examine the effectiveness of using neurofeedback to improve patients' social phobia. Design and setting: randomized controlled trial, conducted at a counseling center in west china. Participants: 30 patients reporting social phobia were recruited in this study. Interventions: participants were assigned randomly to either a neurofeedback or a non-neurofeedback group. All patients in both groups received the same traditional training except for neurofeedback. The neurofeedback group received 45 minutes of neurofeedback, twice a week for six sessions. Measures and finding: the measure of this study was the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), which was administered before and after the program. Using a 2 × 2 MANOVA, the changes in mean SPIN were significantly higher in the neurofeedback group than in the non-neurofeedback group. Conclusions: a training program involving neurofeedback significantly improved the social phobia. Implications for practice: Consultants involved in social phobia patients care who are interested in complementary therapies should be encouraged to obtain learning in neurofeedback technique and teach patients’ families in clinical settings.

Neurofeedback, Training Program, Social Phobia Disorder, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Social Avoidance and Distress