The NIMH estimates that approximately 12.5 percent of U.S. teens are depressed. During the pandemic, school closures and the climate crisis this figure has skyrocketed. Depression can develop from a complex combination of factors including genetics, gut health, physical health, brain chemistry, environmental stressors, anxiety and trauma. It is also correlated with a person’s innate level of resilience. Depression can look very different in children versus adults and from person to person. Some individuals may internalize their depression, showing signs of withdrawal and have lower affect behaviors. Other individuals may become externalizers and express themselves with outward signs of agitation and anger. Some people may have physical pain or physical symptoms resulting from depression. It also common for a person to experience chronic anxiety before experiencing depression.

Individuals with depression often display both results of overactive and underactive activity in their brain wave functioning. Irregular Alpha wave activity is commonly seen in those with depression. Neurofeedback changes the brain waves ratios to more regulated functioning, thereby reducing depressive symptoms. 

Research on Neurofeedback for Depression:

The Efficacy of Neurofeedback in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (2016)

Cheon, E-J, Koo, B-H, Choi, J-H

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of neurofeedback on depressive symptoms and electrophysiological disturbances in patients with major depressive disorder. This study shows that neurofeedback treatment could improve depressive symptoms significantly. In addition, anxiety symptoms and clinical illness severity decreased significantly after neurofeedback treatment.

Clinical Use of an Alpha Asymmetry Neurofeedback Protocol in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: Follow-Up Study One to Five Years Post-Therapy
by Baehr E Ph.D., Rosenfeld JP Ph.D., Baehr R Ph.D.

Many more studies can be found in the PubMed Database