Anti-craving biofeedback program in clinical course of pathological addictions

Abstract

Introduction

Modern clinical narcology searches for anti-craving programs to overcome psychoactive substances (PAS) pathological addiction with bio-adaptive regulation of systems (BARS).

Aims and objectives

To develop computer modified biofeedback program integrated with Luscher test.

Method

Twenty-two PAS addicts who were undergoing biofeedback modified psycho-training were examined. Computer rheoencephalogram (REG) was used as an external monitoring module.

Results

Technologically novel biofeedback computer modification was developed with preceding Luscher computer testing for determination of the individual preference colour and the colour producing individual unpleasant associations in respondents. Consequently, biofeedback program was corrected differentially by changing standard colour templates for those personified on monitor. Cerebral hemodynamics condition transferred to individually designed for a particular respondent colour registers is used as a homeostatic parameter reflecting alcohol craving presence/absence: in case of the disordered REG parameters the signal reflects the respondent's unpleasant (negative) colour, and with no craving the screen is filled with positive, pleasant, favourite colour. During BARS auto-training the respondents’ skills to mediate present subjective clinical PAS craving manifestations with unpleasant colour and the experimental auto-training method have been mastered, and those psycho emotional states which displace PAS craving symbolic colour from the screen are selected, and it is substituted with favourite colour (symbol of healthy mode of life motivations).

Conclusions

Usage of combined BARS biofeedback improved effectiveness of the training and allowed to objectivize and control the condition of the patient getting reliable visual and digital information about either regress or activation of PAS craving and potential relapse of addictive behaviour.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.