Abstract
Introduction:Today, addiction to opioids is a serious problem all over the world. Unfortunately, the consumption of these drugs and the number of addicted people have drastically increased. This research aimed at comparing the efficacy of anodal, cathodal, and sham transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and psychological symptoms in opioid-addicted patients.Methods:Thirty opioid-addicted patients were selected based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the Fifth Edition, through the convenience sampling method. They were then randomly assigned to 3 groups (10 in each group). The subjects were evaluated before and after tDCS by their serum level of BDNF, desires for drug questionnaire, and depression anxiety stress scale. The data were analyzed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way analysis of variance, as well as the Bonferroni test.Results:Stimulating the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) led to a significant change in increasing the level of BDNF (P=0.031) and reducing the degree of depression (P=0.018), anxiety (P=0.001), stress (P=0.012), and decreased the level of craving (P=0.001) in opioid-addicted patients. There was no significant difference between active stimulation groups (anodal left/cathodal right and anodal right/cathodal left). The stimulation of the right DLPFC (group B) significantly increased BDNF in comparison with the sham group (sham tDCS) and decreased anxiety and craving. Nonetheless, no change was observed in depression and stress. The stimulation of the left DLPFC (group A) significantly reduced depression, anxiety, stress, and craving compared with the sham group, while there was no change in BDNF.Conclusion:In addition to the conventional treatments of opioid-addicted patients, tDCS is an effective complementary treatment.
Highlights
Today, addiction to opioids is a serious problem all over the world
There was no significant difference between active stimulation groups
The stimulation of the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) significantly reduced depression, anxiety, stress, and craving compared with the sham group, while there was no change in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Summary
Addiction to opioids is a serious problem all over the world. the consumption of these drugs and the number of addicted people have drastically increased. Addiction to narcotic drugs is connected to social problems such as unemployment, legal issues, and interpersonal problems, as well as health problems such as HIV and death Because of these reasons, addiction to opioids is among chronic relapsing diseases (Veilleux et al, 2010). The studies in neuroscience suggest that addiction is a kind of sickness type behavior that affects the natural process of learning and motivation in the brain so that taking drugs overcomes any other rewarding behavior. Knowing this view makes it easier to find new and more effective ways of addiction treatment. It makes these changes a target and causes changes in attitudes and treatment methods of addiction (Carter, Hall, & Nutt, 2009)
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