TITLE:
The Effectiveness of Neurofeedback Therapy in Craving of Methamphetamine Use
AUTHORS:
Peyman Hashemian
KEYWORDS:
Methamphetamine, Neurofeedback, Craving
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.5 No.2,
April
3,
2015
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Relapse in methamphetamine
dependency is one of the most difficult parts to treat. Therefore treatment of
craving for usage is one of the essential sections of treatment in
methamphetamine dependency (addiction). This study evaluates the effect of
neurofeedback therapy on craving for use. Methods: In this study 20 male
patient with methamphetamine dependency who diagnosed on the basis of DSM-V
were selected. None of the patients had any psychiatric and neurologic disorder
except addiction of methamphetamine. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 10.
The first group has taken real neurofeedback therapy sessions while the second
has undergone non-real neurofeedback (sham) therapy. Then the two groups have
been compared with t-test. Result: The result shows that in the first group
(real neurofeedback), craving for methamphetamine use has been decreased
significantly whereas in the second group (non-real or sham), the decrease was
not significant. Conclusion: Neurofeedback therapy is effective in treatment of
craving for methamphetamine use.