COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION OF THE BRAIN (TDCS) AND NEUROFEEDBACK ON CRAVING IN SUBSTANCE ABUSERS

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.