Repeated prefrontal tDCS improves cognitive emotion regulation and readiness for treatment in substance use disorder: A randomized sham-controlled study

Q1 Psychology

Addictive Behaviors Reports Pub Date : 2025-05-08 DOI:10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100614

Ali Salmani , Sajjad Basharpoor , Zahra Vaziri , Mohammad Ali Salehinejad

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Individuals with substance use disorder (iSUD) often show diminished motivation toward treatment-seeking and adherence, resulting in a higher relapse rate, especially during the abstinence phase. A key cognitive correlate of substance use and treatment-seeking behavior is the ability to regulate emotion. While transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows potential for treating SUD, most studies have focused on craving or cognitive deficits. This randomized, placebo-controlled study examines the effects of 15 daily sessions of prefrontal tDCS on treatment motivation and cognitive emotion regulation in iSUD during the abstinence phase.

Methods

Thirty-two young male iSUDs (mean age= 22.80±1.92) were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=16) or placebo (n=16) groups. The experimental group underwent 15 sessions of anodal left and cathodal right dlPFC stimulation (2 mA, 20 min), while the placebo group received sham stimulation over the same period. Assessments of readiness, eagerness, motivation for treatment, and cognitive emotion regulation were conducted before and after the intervention.

Results

The active repeated prefrontal tDCS significantly boosted motivation for change and treatment in iSUD in comparison to sham tDCS. This intervention specifically improved participants’ recognition of issues related to their substance use and reduced ambivalence about it. Additionally, active prefrontal tDCS enhanced adaptive cognitive emotion regulation while reducing maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in iSUD.

Conclusions

Repeated prefrontal tDCS can help iSUD during the abstinence phase to improve adaptive emotion regulation strategies, thereby boosting motivation for treatment seeking. Up and downregulation of left and right dlPFCs is a promising approach for cognitively and motivationally preparing iSUD for treatment-seeking.

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重复前额叶tDCS改善认知情绪调节和对物质使用障碍治疗的准备：一项随机假对照研究

物质使用障碍（iSUD）患者通常表现出寻求治疗和坚持治疗的动机减弱，导致复发率较高，特别是在戒断期。物质使用和寻求治疗行为的一个关键认知关联是调节情绪的能力。虽然经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）显示出治疗SUD的潜力，但大多数研究都集中在渴望或认知缺陷上。这项随机、安慰剂对照研究考察了每天15次前额叶tDCS对节育器戒断期治疗动机和认知情绪调节的影响。方法32例年轻男性isud患者（平均年龄22.80±1.92）随机分为试验组（n=16）和安慰剂组（n=16）。实验组接受15次左、负极性dlPFC刺激（2 mA, 20 min），安慰剂组在相同时间内接受假刺激。在干预前后分别进行准备程度、渴望程度、治疗动机和认知情绪调节的评估。结果与假tDCS相比，活跃的重复前额叶tDCS显著提高了iSUD改变和治疗的动机。这种干预特别提高了参与者对与他们的物质使用有关的问题的认识，并减少了对此的矛盾心理。此外，活跃的前额叶tDCS增强了iSUD的适应性认知情绪调节，同时减少了不适应的认知情绪调节策略。结论反复前额叶tDCS可帮助节育器戒断期患者改善适应性情绪调节策略，从而提高寻求治疗的动机。左、右dlpfc的上调和下调是一种很有希望的方法，可以在认知和动机上为寻求治疗做准备。

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来源期刊

Addictive Behaviors Reports Medicine-Psychiatry and Mental Health

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

71 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors Reports is an open-access and peer reviewed online-only journal offering an interdisciplinary forum for the publication of research in addictive behaviors. The journal accepts submissions that are scientifically sound on all forms of addictive behavior (alcohol, drugs, gambling, Internet, nicotine and technology) with a primary focus on behavioral and psychosocial research. The emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. We are particularly interested in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research. Studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry as well as scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are also very much encouraged. We also welcome multimedia submissions that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings.