Substance use disorder
Research Papers
Showing 6 of 10Biofeedback Interventions for Impulsivity-related Processes in Addictive Disorders
Abstract Purpose of Review Biofeedback is a promising technique that has been used as a treatment tool for different psychological disorders. In this regard, central (neurofeedback) and peripheral psychophysiological signals are presented as comprehensible stimuli with the aim of training specific processes. This review summarizes recent evidence about its use for the treatment of impulsivity-related processes in addictive disorders. Recent Findings Neurofeedback (NFB) protocols, based on electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have focused on substance use disorders. Biofeedback protocols using peripheral measures have been mainly based on heart rate variability and focused on behavioral addictions. EEG-NFB reported good results in the reduction of hyperarousal, impulsivity and risk taking in alcohol use disorder, and decreased rates of smoking and less craving in nicotine addiction. In fMRI-NFB, effective NFB performance has been related with better clinical outcomes in substance use disorders; however, its implication for treatment is still unclear. Heart rate variability biofeedback results are scarce, but some interventions have been recently designed aimed at treating behavioral addictions. Summary In addictive disorders, biofeedback interventions for impulsivity-related processes have shown promising results, although the literature is still scarce. Further research should aim at proving the effectiveness of biofeedback protocols as a treatment option for impulsivity in addictive disorders.
View Full Paper →Infralow neurofeedback in the treatment of substance use disorders: a randomized controlled trial
Background: Infralow neurofeedback (ILF-NF) was recently developed as a subtype of traditional, frequency-based neurofeedback that targets cerebral rhythmic activity below 0.5 Hz and improves brain self-regulation. The efficacy of ILF-NF in the treatment of substance use disorder has not yet been evaluated, but clinical evidence suggests that it may prevent relapse by improving functioning in various life domains. The current study aimed to fill this research gap and extend empirical evidence related to this issue. Methods: Ninety-three patients with substance use disorders at an outpatient unit in Norway were randomized to receive 20 sessions (30 minutes each) of ILF-NF training combined with treatment as usual (TAU), or TAU alone. The primary outcome was quality of life post-treatment as an overall measure of functioning. We analyzed between-group differences using Student t tests. Results: We found no significant differences in quality of life between groups. We found similar nonsignificant results for most of the secondary outcome measures, including drug use, sleep, anxiety and depression. Compared to TAU, the ILF-NF + TAU group reported significantly lower restlessness scores post-treatment (mean difference −1.8, 95% confidence interval –3.1 to –0.5; p = 0.006). Limitations: This study was limited by broad inclusion criteria and a lack of placebo control (sham neurofeedback treatment). Conclusion: ILF-NF offered limited additional benefit when combined with TAU, except in the area of restlessness. Future studies could further investigate the relationship between ILF-NF, restlessness and substance use in targeted subpopulations to illuminate relapse mechanisms. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03356210.
View Full Paper →The Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: Recent Developments and New Perspectives
Substance-related disorders are complex psychiatric disorders that are characterized by continued consumption in spite of harmful consequences. Addiction affects various brain networks critically involved in learning, reward, and motivation, as well as inhibitory control. Currently applied therapeutic approaches aim at modification of behavior that ultimately leads to decrease of consumption or abstinence in individuals with substance use disorders. However, traditional treatment methods might benefit from recent neurobiological and cognitive neuroscientific research findings. Novel cognitive-behavioral approaches in the treatment of addictive behavior aim at enhancement of strategies to cope with stressful conditions as well as craving-inducing cues and target erroneous learning mechanisms, including cognitive bias modification, reconsolidation-based interventions, mindfulness-based interventions, virtual-reality-based cue exposure therapy as well as pharmacological augmentation strategies. This review discusses therapeutic strategies that target dysregulated neurocognitive processes associated with the development and maintenance of disordered substance use and may hold promise as effective treatments for substance-related disorders.
View Full Paper →Cognitive rehabilitation in addictive disorders
Substance use disorders are frequently associated with neuropsychological deficits. A comprehensive assessment of attention, memory, executive functions, language and mental speed is often warranted. Cognitive rehabilitation is a therapy programme designed as an intervention to help people with cognitive, behaviour and emotional deficits. Using systematic approaches such as cognitive retraining and EEG neurofeedback, the individuals are helped to be integrated into society.
View Full Paper →Neurofeedback as a Treatment for Impulsivity in a Forensic Psychiatric Population With Substance Use Disorder: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial Combined With an N-of-1 Clinical Trial
Background: Impulsivity and substance use disorder (SUD) are strongly interconnected, with persons scoring high on impulsivity being more vulnerable to develop substance abuse, facing more challenges for successful treatment, and being more prone to engage in criminal behavior. Studies have shown that impulsivity and craving for substances are strongly correlated. Neurofeedback is an effective treatment to reduce impulsive behavior. This study intends to determine to what extent a neurofeedback-intervention that is aimed at reducing impulsivity can also reduce levels of craving in forensic patients with SUD and comorbid Axis I and/or II diagnoses. Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate to what extent a reduction in impulsivity by a sensorimotor rhythm (SMR)-neurofeedback intervention will lead to a reduction in craving in a population of forensic psychiatric patients with a diagnosis of SUD. Methods: Participants will be male SUD patients with various comorbidities residing in an inpatient forensic treatment facility approached through treatment supervisors for participation. Participants have tested positive for drug use in the past 24 months. The study consists of 2 parts: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a n-of-1 clinical series. In the RCT, 50 patients will be randomly assigned to an intervention (n=25) or a control (n=25) condition. Patients in the intervention group will receive 20 SMR neurofeedback sessions aimed at reducing impulsivity; participants in the control group receive treatment-as-usual (TAU). Additionally, 4 in depth n-of-1 clinical trials will be conducted where effects of an SMR neurofeedback intervention will be compared to effects of sham neurofeedback. Results: Results of this study are expected by the end of 2017. Conclusions: This protocol describes the design of a study testing the effects of an impulsivity-based neurofeedback protocol among forensic patients with SUD and various comorbidities. We expect a significant reduction in impulsive behavior, level of craving, and actual drug-use for participants receiving the SMR neurofeedback protocol. The n-of-1 approach might help to explain effects possibly found in the RCT study since it allows for a more direct focus on treatment effects by following participants more closely and thereby being able to directly attribute behavioral and neurophysiological change to the SMR neurofeedback protocol employed. © Sandra Fielenbach, Franc CL Donkers, Marinus Spreen, Stefan Bogaerts. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 25.01.2017. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Research Protocols, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://www.researchprotocols.org, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.
View Full Paper →Effectiveness of Neurofeedback Training as a Treatment for Opioid-Dependent Patients
Neurofeedback (NF) training has been employed as a therapeutic method in substance-dependence disorder over the last three decades. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of this method on improvement of comorbid neuro-psychological syndromes in opioid-dependence disorder. Psychopathological and craving dimensions and brain activity signals of 20 opioid dependent patients were measured using Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL90-R), Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ), and Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG). All the patients were undergoing pharmacotherapy. They were assigned to two groups that were matched based on SCL-90-R scores, education and age. The experimental group received 30 sessions of NF training in addition to their medicine. The control group received only the usual pharmacotherapy. The probable changes were monitored by reappraisal of all the patients after the treatment. We hypothesized that patients in the experimental group would show more reduction in their comorbid syndromes.
View Full Paper →Ready to Optimize Your Brain?
Schedule a free consultation to discuss substance use disorder and how neurofeedback training can help
Or call us directly at 855-88-BRAIN
View Programs & Pricing →