EEG-Driven Stimulation, is an advanced form of biofeedback. EDS uses gently flashing lights as the feedback signal, which has resulted in rather significant alleviations of a number of kinds of depression. Specifically, it has reliably improved:

• reactive depression
• manic-depressive cycles
• lifelong serious depression
• suicidal ideation and despondency
• attentional problems
• difficulty absorbing verbal and written material
• low energy during the day
• sleeping problems at night
• problems initiating activities

These problems exist concurrently with EEG slowing, which consists of high amplitude, high variability, low frequency brain waves. EDS should be seen only as a reliable way, and a reasonably rapid way to reduce EEG slowing, and not as a treatment magically improving a wide variety of disorders - an outcome "too good to be true." At this point, hundreds of depressed clients have been worked with, with all showing significant relief from the above problems.  

The system, in general, operates by monitoring the person's brain waves, analyzing the EEG patterns, and using the ever-changing EEG patterns to continuously make the frequency of the flashing lights relevant to the person in treatment. Instead of evoking seizures, as many predicted, this has acted as an anticonvulsant, allowing people to safely reduce their medications. The results have been holding for the people finished ten years ago, in fact, once they have started improving again, their improvements have continued to evolve.

Most of these people are light sensitive. The first phase of the treatment desensitizes them to the light stimulation, at which time frontal EEG slowing is strongly decreased. The next phase of treatment involves systematic discovery and treatment of all other sites of EEG slowing on the scalp.

There is no conscious learning or practicing involved. People sit in a chair, eyes closed, and rest from 5 minutes, to 40 minutes on average. Average numbers of treatments is 20 to 24, however the treatment duration varies considerably with the duration and complexity of the person's problem(s).  

Those who have been high functioning, but have been enduring difficult work or personal losses with reactive depression typically need twelve or twenty sessions. People who have had lifelong multiple and complex functioning problems may easily need 100 sessions.

Since EDS is a non-psychotherapeutic procedure, it is always important for the patients to have competent, adjunctive psychotherapeutic treatment and support at a level commensurate with the seriousness of any behavioral problems.