Studying and comparing the effectiveness of brain stimulation over the skull through TDCS direct electrical current and matrix to reduce craving of methamphetamine

Abstract

Purpose: the purpose of the present research was to study and compare the effectiveness of brain stimulation over the skull through TDCS direct electrical current and matrix to reduce craving of methamphetamine.
Method: the statistical population of the research included 45 individuals who have been selected by random sampling from addict people who randomly referred to the Khorshid and Miad addiction clinics of Kermanshah. They have been placed randomly in three groups of 15. First of all, pre-test was implemented for all three groups (assessment questionnaire of momentary craving of drugs), then treatment approach of brain stimulation over the skull was done by using direct electrical current (it included 15 daily sessions of 10 minutes with 2 mA on dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex), and matrix treatment protocol was done on the for the second group (it included 24 daily sessions of one hour), and the third group as Control group received no treatment, post-test (assessment questionnaire of momentary craving of drug) was implemented for three groups at the end of all sessions.
Analysis: covariance analysis and post hoc Bonferroni test have been used in the present research.
Findings: findings indicated the effectiveness of both therapeutic models on reducing the craving of methamphetamine. Also, the results showed that matrix method was more effective on reducing the level of craving methamphetamine than brain stimulation over the skull by using direct electrical current.