Although it might sound at first like something out of a horror movie, using electrical currents to stimulate the brain can treat a variety of mental health disorders, including substance abuse. Cranioelectrotherapy stimulation (CES), also called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or microcurrent electrical stimulation, uses very weak electrical currents delivered through two electrodes to stimulate specific parts of the brain. The electrodes can be placed anywhere on the scalp, and they are held in place by a simple headband. One session generally lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. This therapy is still experimental and not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but studies show that it can alleviate the symptoms of addiction, depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic pain.
Addictive substances increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the reward circuits of the brain, which can reinforce the behavior of taking the drug and lead to dependence. Targeting these parts of the brain can interrupt the addiction cycle. It’s also been found that applying stimulation to the dorsal prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can help with depression and substance abuse. The DLPFC has connections to planning, decision-making, inhibitions, and other critical brain functions. Because people who use drugs tend to be impulsive and risk-takers, it’s believed that disfunction of the DLPFC may be related to addiction. The results of several studies have shown that drug cravings worsen proportionally to impulsiveness. Cravings can be set off by cues, or things such as seeing someone in person or in media smoking, drinking, or doing drugs. When a person reacts to these cues, there is an increase in DLPFC activity; conversely, stimulation of the DLPFC can reduce the feeling of the craving. It’s unknown whether this is a result of activity in the parts of the brain responsible for cognitive function, or if it’s the effect on the impulse centers.
It’s also been hypothesized that the DLPFC regulates cravings. Clinical studies have found that CES applied to the dorsal prefrontal cortex of individuals with nicotine and alcohol dependence reduces the urge to drink or smoke. Mice that had been exposed to nicotine developed symptoms similar to depression during withdrawal, and using Cranioelectrotherapy stimulation reversed these effects.
Although more studies pertaining to the safety of CES are needed, evidence so far shows that it can be an efficient and cost-effective alternative for addiction treatment. The device costs less than $10,000 and has a battery that can last for several weeks. It also doesn’t require a specialist to operate; technicians could do it after sufficient training. The challenges that remain for large-scale use are mostly technical, and include developing protocols and guidelines – for example, configurations for different areas of the brain, variation in design of the electrodes, and positioning of the electrodes
If you or a loved one need help quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
