The Efficacy of Neuro-feedback Training in Opiate-Craving Addicted Patients

Abstract

To compare the efficacy of common drug therapy (Methadone or Boprenorphine maintenance) with a combination of neuro-feedback and drug therapy in opiate-dependant patients for overcoming opiate cravings, twenty volunteer male subjects (with the mean age of 30) participated in Methadone or Boprenorphine maintenance drug therapy. This was an experimental study with pretest-posttest design, in which “Heroin Craving Questionnaire” was administered to the sample to collect the data. Homogeneous subjects were assigned to two experimental and control groups. The former received drug therapy and neuro-feedback training, while the latter only underwent drug therapy. The training included SMR on Cz followed by an alpha-theta protocol on Pz during thirty sessions for five weeks (six sessions each week). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) indicated that the anticipation of positive outcome, desire to abuse substance and relief from withdrawal (dysphoria) significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control one. It can be concluded that neure-feedback was effective on reducing the intensity of opiate craving of the addicted patients.

Keywords

• Neuro-feedback training
• Opiate dependency
• Craving
• Efficacy