Comparing the Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation(TDCS) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Craving, Mood and Smoking Addiction

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

2 MSc in Clinical Psychology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Alavi Hospital, Imam Reza 61

Abstract

Introduction: Craving is a complex behavior and one of the important factors for the continuation of smoking. This research was conducted to compare the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive behavioral therapy on craving, mood and smoking addiction in smokers in Mashhad.

method: In an experimental study conducted in 1393, 12 smokers who referred to Mashhad medical centers were selected by available sampling method and assigned to TDCS (6 people) and CBT (6 people) treatment groups randomly. The subjects of both groups were treated for 8 sessions. They answered the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges, Positive and Negative Affect Scale and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, before and after the intervention. The obtained data were analyzed using Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U and Kolmogorov-Smirnov non-parametric tests.

Results: The results showed that both TDCS and CBT treatments significantly reduce smoking craving (p<0.05) and TDCS leads to a greater reduction (p<0.01). Also, TDCS significantly improves positive and negative affect, but CBT only improves negative affect in smokers (p<0.05). Besides, TDCS causes more improvement in negative affect (p<0.01). TDCS had a significant effect in reducing smoking addiction (p<0.05), but CBT was not effective in this regard.

Conclusion: Compared to CBT, TDCS has a greater effect on craving, mood and smoking addiction.

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