Volume 29, Issue 1 (Monthly_Apr 2018)                   Studies in Medical Sciences 2018, 29(1): 20-32 | Back to browse issues page

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Department of Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran , E.soleimani@urmia.ac.ir
Abstract:   (6519 Views)
Background & Aims: Addiction is a chronic psychiatric disorder that is prevalent in many societies and has become a serious problem for communities. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulations (tDCS) and neurofeedback on craving among substance users.
Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted on opioid-dependent patients referring to methadone treatment centers in Miyandob city in 2017. Sixty people were selected through random sampling and were assigned into tDCS (n= 20) and neurofeedback (n= 20) and one control group (n=20). These groups had a pretest and posttest. They all completed a craving questionnaire then treatment with a direct electrical stimulation of the brain (tDCS) started including 20 sessions (20-min) anodal stimulation of F3 region, and Kathodal stimulation of F4 region with a current of 2 mA and treatment sessions with neurofeedback with 20 sessions (30-min).  Finally, all participants completed craving Questionnaire for the second time. The data were analyzed using covariance.
Results: There was a significant difference between three groups in the rates of craving in the post-test phase. Also analysis of the data showed that tDCS compared with the neurofeedback was more effective in decreasing the rates of craving in the post-test phase.
Conclusion: The results showed that neurofeedback and especially tDCS can reduce craving in substance Users. Hence, we recommend psychotherapists to use tDCS and neurofeedback in treating addicted people.
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Type of Study: Clinical trials | Subject: روانشناسی

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