The Effectiveness of Integrating Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation with Mindfulness Method on Reducing Craving and Relapse in Methamphetamine Abusers

The issue of methamphetamine abuse has become more widespread in recent years, which has attracted increasing attention and caused growing concern in the community. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effectiveness of integrating transcranial direct current stimulation with mindfulness method on reducing craving and relapse in methamphetamine abusers.

The present research is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group with a 6-month follow-up. The statistical population of the study consisted of all male methamphetamine abusers referred to the addiction treatment ward of Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah in a period of three months (from May 22 to August 22) in 2020. Using an available sampling method, 30 people were selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental (n=15) or the control (n=15) groups and completed the Relapse Prevention Scale (Gorski, 1997) and Desire for Drug Questionnaire (Franken et al, 2002) in three steps. In the experimental group, combined therapy was performed in 10 sessions twice a week, each session lasting one hour. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures variance.

The results showed that the combined treatment significantly reduced the post-test scores for craving and its dimensions for the subjects in the experimental group, and this effect remained stable during the follow-up period (p<0.05). Also, the effect of combined treatment on reducing the recurrence scores and dimensions of desire, belief and control perception in the experimental group in the post-test and follow-up stages was significant (p<0.05).

These findings show the usefulness of integrated therapy on consumption symptoms in methamphetamine abusers. In addition to helping to explain the etiology of use syndrome in addicts, the findings of the study can be promising in planning rehabilitation and treatment interventions.