NCT06188910

Neurofeedback and Nomophobia in Young Adults

Completed NA Last updated 29 September 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Neurofeedback in Anxiety in 40 participants. Completed in 28 February 2025.

Timeline

1 April 2024

Primary endpoint
31 December 2024

28 February 2025

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Salamanca
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	triple
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	40
Start date	1 April 2024
Primary completion	31 December 2024
Estimated completion	28 February 2025
Sites	1 location across Spain

Drugs / interventions tested

• Neurofeedback
• Health education

Conditions studied

• Anxiety — all drugs for Anxiety →
• Biofeedback — all drugs for Biofeedback →

Sponsor

University of Salamanca

Who can join

Adults 18 to 30, any sex, with Anxiety or Biofeedback. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Introduction: Given the growing increase in addiction to social networks and smartphone use in young people and its implications for health, it is necessary to investigate effective interventions for the appropriate use of these technologies and coping with possible signs of addiction.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an intervention based on neurofeedback techniques on anxiety and other disorders associated with problematic use of mobile phones and the internet in young adults.

Methodology: Randomised controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups: an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). The study population will be young adults aged 18-30 years. A sample size of 40 participants has been estimated, 20 in each group to detect a difference of 3.9 points or more on the DASS-21 anxiety questionnaire.

All participants will receive an educational workshop on the responsible use of new technologies and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The IG, in addition to this educational workshop, will receive 25 neurofeedback sessions during 12 weeks, 2-3 sessions/week with the MUSE neurofeedback device.

A baseline and 3-month post-intervention assessment will be conducted for both groups to study change variables related to smartphone addiction (Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV)), nomophobia (Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q)), depression, anxiety and stress (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21-item (DASS-21)) and sleep quality.

Publications & conference data

2 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Study protocol of a proposed Neurofeedback-Assisted Mindfulness Training Program on symptoms of anxiety and psychological distress associated with smartphone use in young adults: a randomized controlled trial.
   Fernandez-Crespo M, Recio-Rodriguez JI, Lee HC, Alonso-Dominguez R, et al · · 2024 · cited 2× · PMID 39296829 · DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1410932
2. Efficacy of neurofeedback-assisted mindfulness for anxiety and nomophobia in Spanish young adults: a randomized controlled trial.
   Fernandez-Crespo M, Rihuete-Galve MI, Sanchez-Aguadero N, Sanchez-Sanchez N, et al · · 2025 · PMID 41409706 · DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1712564