Effectivness of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation(tDCS) over left Dorsolateral Prefrontal cortex on drug Craving and Attentional bias Symptoms in Opium Addictied Males

Background and Objective: Among the most challenging component of addiction are the craving and the cues related to the drug abuse which have made the treatment actions ineffective, thus resulting relaps. The aim of this study is to examine the effectivness of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on drug craving and attentional bias  symptoms in opium addictied males. Materials and Methods: This was a Quasi-experimental work with pretest-posttest design. ۴۴ patients were selected through convenient sampling and were randomly assigned into two exprimental and control groups. Before the treatment, both groups were tested through craving questionnaire and cmputerized emotional stroop test.The experimental group received a ۲۰ minute electrical stimulation of the brain by stimulator with the intensity of ۲ mA for ۱۰ sessions. Aa the end, both groups were tested through craving questionnaire and cmputerized emotional stroop test and the data were analysed with MANCOVA and ANCOVA. Results: The results showed that tDCS anodic left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex decreased craving level and reduced attentional bias in the experimental group compared to the control group in opium addicted males. (p<۰/۰۰۱). There was a significant difference between control and experimental groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study could have important implications as regards drug craving reduction and attentional bias improvement in opium addicted males. Therefore,this treatment could be utilized in clinics for opium addicted males.

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Keywords: Opium , Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS) , Attentional bias , Drug craving