Dynamic Neural Retraining System

Annie Hooper created the Dynamic Neural Retraining System or DNRS in 2008, and states this is based on her recovery from "severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia and Electric Hypersensitivity Syndrome". Hooper is not a doctor or a scientist.

Theory
DNRS's website states that trauma is the cause of brain changes, and that trauma causes a "maladaptive stress response" which then causes certain physical symptoms, which the website lists. However, the symptoms listed have many possible causes and DNRS is not an approved trauma recovery program. Various scientific claims on the website about the long term effects of trauma and about how the program physically alters the brain do not have scientific references, including the claim that the program will help you create "new, healthy neural pathways".

Components
The program is a psychologically based self-help approach that states it involves
 * cognitive behavioral therapy
 * mindfulness based cognitive restructuring
 * emotional restructuring therapy
 * neural linguistic programming (NLP)
 * incremental training (a form of neural shaping)
 * behaviour modification therapy"• cognitive-behaviour therapy"

The program states it takes 14hrs to complete the training, with 4 days suggested for this, followed by regular practice. It can be done online or by DVD. You are expected to commit to 6 months of practice, at a minimum of one hour per day.

ME/CFS
The DNRS website claims it can "rewire chronic illness disease patterns in the brain" and that "the program is an effective treatment for chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and many other chronic illnesses". No evidence is given to support these claims, and there is no evidence that brain-only dysfunction is the cause of these illnesses.

There are no clinical trials of the risks and benefits of the Dynamic Neural Retraining System for ME/CFS. The theory of ME/CFS as a long-term consequence of trauma lacks evidence, with many patients have no trauma history and most reporting that the onset if the disease was linked to a virus, other infection, or injury. DNRS does not mention any benefits that could lead to improvement in mitochondria or immune system functioning, or any dorsal root ganglia changes, all of which research has found to be involved in ME/CFS. Peripheral nerve changes, the autonomous nervous system changes, and POTS are not mentioned.

Some components of the program such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and stress management techniques have not been to be effective in the majority of ME/CFS, and some have resulted in substantial rates of harm. If used as a trauma recovery or stress management program, it is not known how this compares with well-established, proven treatments.

Evidence
No clinical trials have been conducted to show the effectiveness or potential risks of DNRS, and there is no evidence that the brain is "rewired" or "retrained" or that neural networks within the brain are altered by the treatment.

Evidence consists of an unpublished presentation, which has not been peer reviewed, part of which can be found on the DNRS website, and a number of claims by coaches or facilitators who stated they recovered from multiple illnesses using it. According to the presentation, brain imaging or brain function tests were not used to assess neuroplasticity after the DNRS course, and all results were based on patient questionnaires.

The presentation on the website does not provide results separately for patients with ME/CFS, although some patients reported having it.

Learn more

 * Trial By Error: What Is the Dynamic Neural Retraining System? - Virology blog
 * Some Comments on So-Called “Brain Retraining” Programs - Psychologist Lisa Petrison comments on the unproven scientific claims and potential harm - Paradigmchange.me
 * How the program works - DNRS