Effectiveness of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) With and Without Computer-based Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) in Promoting Emotion Dysregulation and Response Inhibition in Methamphetamine Abusers

Background: Despite extensive evidence on cognitive deficits and difficulty in emotion regulation related to substance abuse, especially methamphetamine abuse, a few well-organized programs could have improved cognitive abilities and emotion regulation in drug users. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm therapy (IPSRT) alone and combined with Cognitive Rehabilitation therapy (CRT) on inhibitory response and emotion dysregulation in people with methamphetamine use disorder. Patients and Methods: The current quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and follow-up design included two intervention groups. Forty methamphetamine abusers were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and assigned randomly to the IPSRT (n = 20) and IPSRT + CRT (n = 20) groups. The first group received IPSRT in 12 sessions, two 60 min sessions per week. The second group received IPSRT and 16 sessions of CRT. Subjects were assessed three times at pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and four weeks after the intervention. Results: Data analyzed by descriptive statistics and mixed repeated ANOVA indicated that the two interventions had significant long-term effects on increasing the inhibitory response and decreasing emotion dysregulation. In addition, IPSRT with CRT was more effective than IPSRT alone in promoting executive functions and decreasing emotion dysregulation. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide evidence that adding CRT as an adjunct intervention to psychological interventions such as IPSRT can improve emotional and cognitive performance. Therefore, a combination of psychological interventions with CRT can be considered a useful intervention in addiction treatment centers.

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

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.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy on Cognitive Functions (Working Memory, Concentration, and Attention) of Adolescents Living in Boarding Schools

Background: Cognitive rehabilitation is a way to restore lost cognitive capacities. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy on cognitive functions (working memory, concentration, and attention) of adolescents living in boarding schools in Tehran. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population includes all adolescents living in welfare boarding schools in the age group was 15 to 18 years old, and they were in Tehran in 2018. Out of 100 people, 60 people who had problems in the mentioned variables were randomly selected, and randomly divided into two groups of 30 people. The first group underwent eight individual sessions of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (by NBK software), and the second group, as a control group, did not receive any treatment. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance and Spss.22 software. Results: The results showed that the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy was effective on cognitive functions (working memory, concentration, and attention) of adolescents (P<0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that cognitive rehabilitation can successfully affect numerous aspects of cognitive functions, while numerous medical therapies may be required to treat each mere aspect. Further evaluations are strongly recommended.

The Effect of Computer-based Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy on Difficulties in Emotion-regulation among Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of computer-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy on difficulties in emotional regulation among students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods: Participants were 24 students with ADHD (12 boys and 12 girls) studying in 6-9th grades during 2018-19 at schools located in District 7 of Tehran, Iran. They were selected using a purposive sampling method and based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and then randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Data collection tool was the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) completed at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases. Experimental group received computer-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy for 10 weeks (20 sessions, two sessions per week, each for 30 minutes). Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA in SPSS V. 26 software. Results: All subscales of DERS were significantly improved after intervention which had a medium-to-large effect size. Conclusion: Computer-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy can help treat difficulties in emotional regulation and improve performance of students with ADHD.