scholarly journals Comparison of LORETA Z Score Neurofeedback and Cognitive Rehabilitation in Terms of Their Effectiveness in Reducing Craving in Opioid Addicts

Author(s):  
Alireza Faridi ◽  
◽  
Farhad Taremian ◽  
Robert W Thatcher ◽  
Mohsen Dadashi ◽  
...  

Background: Previous studies have shown that conventional neurofeedback and cognitive modification treatments have led to numerous psychological improvements in patients suffering from substance use disorders. However, effectiveness of LORETA (Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography) Z score neurofeedback (LZNFB) and Cognitive rehabilitation therapy on reducing of opium craving has yet to be investigated. Thus, aim of the present study was to compare effectiveness of LZNFB and Cognitive rehabilitation therapy with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in reduction of opium craving in patients with opioid use disorder. Methods: Thirty patients with opioid use disorder undergoing MMT were randomly assigned into three groups: LZNFB with MMT, Cognitive rehabilitation with MMT (as experimental groups), and MMT alone Control group. The LZNFB and Cognitive rehabilitation groups received 20 and 15 sessions of treatment, respectively. The three groups were assessed using a number of questionnaires as well as Dot-Probe Task at pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Results: The results showed that both experimental groups accomplished significantly greater reduction in opium craving than MMT alone group at post-test and follow up (P<0.05). The LZNFB with MMT group showed higher decrease in opioid craving than the Cognitive rehabilitation with MMT group. In addition, Cognitive rehabilitation group experienced greater improvement on attentional bias towards craving cues than LZNFB with MMT group at post-test and follow up. Finally, LZNFB with MMT group and Cognitive rehabilitation with MMT group got higher scores on the recovery assessment scale than MMT alone group at post-test and follow up. According to results of this study, LZNFB training is more effective than Cognitive Rehabilitation in decreasing of craving and improving quality of life in addiction to opioids. Conclusion: The findings of the current study provided preliminary support for the effectiveness of LZNFB and Cognitive rehabilitation on reduction of opium craving, improvement of attentional bias towards craving cues and quality of life among Iranian opioids use patients.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caleb Carroll ◽  
Delissa Hand ◽  
Whitney Covington ◽  
Joel Rodgers ◽  
Lauren A. Walter

Abstract Background: Emergency department (ED)-initiated medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have emerged as an effective strategy against the opioid epidemic. Opioid use disorder (OUD) patients engaged in ED-initiated MOUD programs have higher retention in treatment programs and improved outcomes with regard to overdose rates and mortality. It is unclear however, how engagement in ED-initiated MOUD programs might affect quality of life (QoL). We sought to describe demographic characteristics and QoL factors reported by patients engaged in ED-initiated MOUD and referral services. Methods: An ED MOUD-initiation program was launched in July 2019, with subsequent referral to definitive services. Enrolled patients were interviewed at intake, 3-months, and 6-months to ascertain QoL indices via the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) measures. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s Exact were utilized to assess the data. Results: Through 12/2020, 89 participants were enrolled. The majority were white (85.4%), male (61.8%), and between the ages of 25-44 (75.3%). To-date, 31 participants (43.7% eligible) have completed 3-month follow-up and 28 (45.2% eligible) have competed 6-month follow-up. With regards to assessed QoL factors, over half demonstrated significant improvement, including 5 of 7 psychosocial factors, to include satisfaction with personal relationships, QoL self-rating, satisfaction with personal health, energy for everyday life, and satisfaction with self (p <.05). Financial needs met was the only objective QoL factor to demonstrate significant improvement during the follow-up time period. While not significant, homelessness also decreased, specifically 14 (15.7%) identified as homeless at intake as compared to one (3.7%) at 6-month follow-up. Additional trends toward decreased violence exposure and increased employment rates were also noted.Conclusions: In addition to decreasing illicit opioid drug use, maintenance of ED-initiated MOUD may positively impact broad QoL measures.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Kyle D. Meeuwsen ◽  
Kayleah M. Groeneveld ◽  
Linda A. Walker ◽  
Anna M. Mennenga ◽  
Rachel K. Tittle ◽  
...  

Background: The three-month, multidomain Memory Boot Camp program incorporates z-score neurofeedback (NFB), heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback, and one-on-one coaching to teach memory skills and encourage behavior change in diet, sleep, physical fitness, and stress reduction. Objective: This prospective trial evaluates the Memory Boot Camp program for adults ages 55 to 85 with symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and subjective memory complaints. Methods: Participants were evaluated via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), NeuroTrax Global Cognitive Index, measures of anxiety, depression, sleep, quality of life, quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and HRV parameters at four timepoints: baseline, pre-program, post-program, and follow-up. The trial included a three-month waiting period between baseline and pre-program, such that each participant acted as their own control, and follow-up took place six months after completion of the program. Results: Participants’ MoCA scores and self-reported measures of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and quality of life improved after treatment, and these changes were maintained at follow-up. Physiological changes in HRV parameters after treatment were not significant, however, breathing rate and QEEG parameters were improved at post-program and maintained at follow-up. Finally, participants’ improvement in MoCA score over the treatment period was correlated with their improvement in two brain oscillation parameters targeted by the z-score NFB protocol: relative power of delta and relative power of theta. Conclusions: Trial results suggest that the Memory Boot Camp program is a promising treatment strategy for older adults with symptoms of MCI and subjective memory complaints.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Tahereh Haji Seyed Javadi ◽  
Najmeh Aghareb Parast ◽  
Sahar Shahsavani ◽  
Mir Javad Chehraghi ◽  
Leila Razavi ◽  
...  

Background: Considering the prevalence of migraine and its detrimental effects on functioning, physical health, and quality of life as well as its psychosocial and social risks. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment with treatment based on acceptance and commitment to the severity of pain and health-related quality of life in migraine patients. Methods: In this study, a semi-experimental design used with pre-test, post-test, a 3-month follow-up, and a control group. Using purposive sampling and considering the inclusion criteria, 45 patients with migraine diagnosis selected from among those referring to the neurology department of Imam Hossein hospital in Tehran. They were then randomly assigned to two experimental groups and a control group. The first experimental group received group therapy based on mindfulness (n = 15; 90-minute sessions), the second experimental group received acceptance and commitment based intervention (n = 15; 90-minute sessions), and the control group (n = 15) received no intervention. All subjects responded to pain intensity and health-related quality of life questionnaires before the intervention (pre-test), after the intervention (post-test), and 3 months after the intervention (follow-up). One-way ANOVA analyzed the collected data. Results: The findings showed that mean scores for the 2 experimental groups were significantly different from the control group in the post-test and follow-up phases in terms of severity of pain and health-related quality of life, while the mean scores for the two experimental groups did not differ significantly. The results emphasize the importance of these interventions for chronic diseases and offer new horizons in clinical interventions. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy could positively affect the severity of pain and health-related quality of life in migraine patients, and any of them can be used to improve the variables mentioned above.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 741-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Rita Silva ◽  
Maria Salomé Pinho ◽  
Luís Macedo ◽  
Christopher Moulin ◽  
Salomé Caldeira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Cognitive interventions (either restorative or compensatory) developed for mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have been tested widely with cognitive measures, but less is known about how the effects of such interventions are generalizable to daily functioning. In the present study, we looked at affective state and perceived functionality and quality of life indicators, for three different cognitive rehabilitation programs.Methods:Fifty-one AD patients in the mild stage of the disease were selected for the study and were randomly assigned to one of three cognitive training groups: (1) Memo+ (a paper and pencil memory training program); (2) SenseCam (wearable camera used as a passive external memory aid); (3) Written diary (a personal journal, used as control condition). All patients attended 11 sessions, twice a week, of 1-hour length. The three outcome indicators were examined with standardized instruments applied before the intervention, one week after and at six months follow-up.Results:After treatment, the SenseCam and Memo+ groups had significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to the Diary control condition. The same was found for measures of perceived functional capacity. No intervention effects were found for quality of life measures. The immediate effects of the interventions were not maintained at follow-up.Conclusions:Our results suggest that two types of memory rehabilitation can improve depressive symptomology and instrumental activities of daily living, suggesting that these interventions can stimulate not only cognition but also well-being, at least in the short term.


2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Hajati ◽  
Banafsheh Gharraee ◽  
Fahimeh Fathali Lavasani ◽  
Hojjatollah Farahani ◽  
Asadollah Rajab

Background: The prevalence of diabetes is on the rise, and the lack of regular self-care activities can exacerbate this disease. Therefore, finding effective and short-term treatments is needed for these patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance-based emotion regulation group therapy in controlling diabetes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This experimental study included the three stages of pre-test, post-test, and six-month after follow-up, as well as a control group. The statistical sample consisted of 33 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the Iranian Diabetes Association, of whom 16 patients were allocated to the intervention group and 17 to the control group. The study was conducted in Tehran in 2019 - 2020. Acceptance-based emotion regulation group therapy lasted 14 weeks, during which some aspects of acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical therapy, and emotion-focused treatment were combined and provided to the patients. The questionnaires used were the Summary of Diabetes Self-care activities (SDSCA) and Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life scale. Also, a structured DSM-V clinical interview was performed, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured. To analyze the data, mixed design ANOVA was run in SPSS version 21. Results: The findings revealed that the mean difference between pre-test and post-test in the experimental group was significant for the variables of HbA1c, quality of life, and self-care while the mean difference between the post-test and follow-up was not significant for HbA1c (P = 0.17) and quality of life (P = 0.27), indicating the stability of the therapeutic effect after six months of the intervention. Based on the present findings, acceptance-based emotion regulation group therapy led to a decrease in HbA1c and an increase in self-care and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Our results showed that acceptance-based emotion regulation group therapy improved self-care, quality of life, and HbA1c in type 2 diabetic patients, so it can be used as a complementary intervention along with medical treatments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 129-136
Author(s):  
Noura Khosh Chin Gol ◽  
◽  
Bahman Akbari ◽  
Leila Moghtader ◽  
Iraj Shakerinia ◽  
...  

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders and is usually associated with abdominal pain. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness and neurofeedback on quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Materials & Methods: The present study was a pretest-posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up. The study population included all women with irritable bowel syndrome referred to gastroenterology centers and clinics of Qazvin city in 2019. Patients were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned into two experimental and one control groups (n=45). The experimental groups underwent Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Neurofeedback (NFB). The Rome-III diagnostic criteria form and the WHOQOLBREF were administered. Data were analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance. Results: There was significant difference between NFB and control group for total quality of life and all its components. The mean between-group difference (MD) of total quality of life score in NFB compared to control group was 21.2±2.58 in post-test and 15.4±2.35 in follow-up (P<0.05). MBCT group was significantly different with the control group in component of general health both in post-test (MD= 0.93±0.53) and follow-up (MD=0.73±0.53), (P<0.05). Conclusion: NFB therapy considerably improved the quality of life of patients with IBS that was remained after two months of follow-up, while MBCT was only effective on improvement of general health in comparison with the control group.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document