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This type of thing happens too often… it confounds me. Sometimes, it takes the form of a “breakthrough” news article, sometimes it’s a person sharing a “new discovery”, or frequently it seems to be revealed for the “first time” by investigative reporters.

Here’s the rub. In the situations I’m talking about there is no breakthrough, nothing is newly discovered, and if there is any revelation it certainly is not the first time.

A classic example: Ritalin (Methylphenidate). This is a drug which has been demonized by countless doctors, researchers, journalist, citizen groups, and even churches. The tirade has been going on for well over thirty years and yet every year or so I see a new wave of new reports, about the new crisis regarding this drug which causes as many personal and societal problems as it solves.

Alas, there is nothing new about any of this…they are exactly the same. The findings and the conclusions are identical to the reports twenty five years ago, when I first started reading about this drug. So here is my conundrum:

• Should I be enthused that people are looking closely at ongoing prescription drug abuse, noticing educational failures, and developing a growing concern about the children of our nation?
• Should I just be pissed off at how thick-headed, short-sighted, and simple-minded, people can be?

So what does my problem have to do with neurofeedback. This week in The Wall Street Journal (Saturday/Sunday Sports Section) was an article entitled Getting Your Head In the Game (Russell Adams) which spoke to the fact that many, if not most of the top athletes in the world (including the World Cup Champion Team: Italy — my shirt size is XL) are using Neurofeedback to train their brain to enhance performance. Adam’s also mentions something which made me think of Ritalin again. He says, “[Neurofeeback] Long used to treat medical conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], epilepsy and dementia, it is beginning to emerge as a tool for pro and amateur athletes alike…”

Okay, here I am in my “New Discovery” conundrum again. Only this time with a twist. I’ve been reading about neurofeedback (use to be called EEG biofeedback) and other forms of biofeedback as long as I’ve been reading about Ritalin. Indeed, the benefits and the efficacy of these non-chemical modalities for the treatment of various problems borders on fantastic.

In fact, neurofeeback, combined with other lifestyle optimization tools (good nutrition, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, physical fitness and other brain conditioning programs) the success of treating ADHD is absolutely stellar (ask any MD who has had a child with ADHD). So why is it that the “Ritalin Thing” is still regularly new news? The answer is not that complex, and I’ll leave you to comment as to your ideas…while I look at my options:

• Should I be enthused that a reporter from The Wall Street Journal in an article about SPORTS, makes an off hand comment about neurofeedback being used in treating ADHD? [Who knew!?]
• Should I just be pissed off that effective non-prescription ways to treat ADHD are so ignored?

What do you think?