Biofeedback combined with cue-exposure as a treatment for heroin addicts

- Heroindependents were randomly assigned to usual treatment with or without CET combined with BT.
- Craving, skin conductance (SC), and muscle electromyography (MEG) were recorded.
- After treatment, the craving, SC and MEG in experiment group were lower than control group.
- Experimental group had a greater decrease in craving, SC, and MEG from baseline after the treatment.
- CET combined with BT is effective in reducing craving in heroin dependents.

The aim of this study was to test if cue-exposure therapy (CET) combined with biofeedback therapy (BT) could decrease craving and physiological reactivity to drug-related cues in heroin dependents. Forty-five participants were randomly assigned to usual rehabilitation with or without CET combined with BT. Craving was assessed by a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS). Skin conductance (SC) and muscle electromyography (MEG) were recorded using a biofeedback device. After 2 months of treatment, both the pre-cue exposure craving and the post-cue exposure craving, SC, and MEG were lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Compared to the control group, the experimental group had a greater decrease in craving, SC, and MEG from baseline after the treatment. The results suggest that CET combined with BT treatment is effective in reducing craving and physiology reactivity in heroin dependents and could be used as a component of heroin-dependence rehabilitation.