Category: Clinical Trials

Science determined to beat alcoholism once and for all — Results encouraging

Science has long been on a quest to find better methods for curing alcoholism.

One such method uses small electric jolts to create an aversion towards the sight, taste and smell of alcohol.

Over the past 80+ years, laboratory tests, research papers and clinical studies have proven this method an effective tool against alcoholism.

1929: Russian Physician successfully treats alcoholics with Small Electric Jolts – 20 months later 70% still fully abstinent

Back in 1929, a Russian physician by the name of Nikolai Kantorovich treated 20 patients suffering from alcoholism.

The participants were subjected to the sight, smell and taste of alcohol, and then given electric jolts.

The treatment proved dramatically successful as 70% of the participants were found completely abstinent up to 20 months after the treatment.

In the 1960s, the approach started receiving considerable attention. It was simple to use, easier to control, and offered less unpleasant consequences than other aversive methods such as chemical aversion (Begleiter, Galanter, 1983).

Research continues to confirm electric jolts effective against alcoholism

Since Kantorovich’s success in 1929 using jolts to help end alcoholism, studies have continued to emerge proving the effectiveness of this method.

Lovibond and Caddy (1970) achieved impressive results with 89% of the participants successfully responding to the treatment, and maintaining their results for up to 6 months.

The method they used was similar to that used by Kantorovich.

Incidentally, rather than develop aversion towards alcohol, the participants seemed to lose their desire to drink (Lovibond, Caddy, 1970).

Why do we need science to break free of alcoholism?

We live in a culture where drinking is an acceptable social activity. And as long as it’s under control, there’s really nothing wrong with it.

But when control slips and drinking becomes excessive, a whole chain of events is set in motion. Excessive drinking will often lead to problems at home and at work. It takes its toll on body, mind, finances and relationships.

As the social emotional problems grow so does the drinking, in a desperate attempt to get away, creating a vicious cycle that reinforces itself over and over.

Luckily, awareness of this cycle is the first step towards recovery. In fact, attention to these problems can facilitate the prospect of therapeutic success (Begleiter, Galanter, 1983).

But awareness is rarely enough to eliminate the problem.

That’s why science has been hard at work to find a definitive solution. And from the studies mentioned in this article, science seems to be getting closer to this holy grail.

References

Begleiter, H., & Galanter, M. (1983). Recent developments in alcoholism: An official publication of the American Medical Society on Alcoholism, the Research Society on Alcoholism, and the National Council on Alcoholism. New York: Plenum.

Blake, B. (1965, 12). The application of behaviour therapy to the treatment of alcoholism. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 3(2), 75-85. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(65)90010-0

Kissin, B., & Begleiter, H. (1977). Treatment and rehabilitation of the chronic alcoholic. New York: Plenum Press.

Lovibond, S., & Caddy, G. (1970, 12). Discriminated aversive control in the moderation of alcoholics’ drinking behavior. Behavior Therapy, 1(4), 437-444. doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(70)80069-7

Why are habits — even the smallest ones — so incredibly tough to break? Why is it a constant uphill struggle?

People tell you to “shrug off the craving… say no… wait it out”. And sometimes you do manage. Through hard work, determination and lots of self-sacrifice, you finally break free of a habit that has been plaguing you for as long as you care to remember.

You’re sure you will never look back.

You’re positive you’ll never relapse.

But then, something happens.

It could be something major like a loss or breakup; or something really small like a bad day at work aggravated by a busted tire.

And suddenly, your cravings are back, stronger than ever.

You think, “I have this under control. One little slip won’t bring it back”.

But before you know it, your habit has caught up with you again, more aggressively than ever before.

It happens more often than we’d like to think.

It happens because we’re human, and because habits prey on our greatest weaknesses.

Habits are like a virus — they use our own body and mind against us.

And there’s no escape unless you bring out the heavy artillery.

Lab test: Electric jolts overcome cravings in rats in just 7 sessions

In a study (Lovibond, 1963) from the University of Adelaide, Australia, researchers wanted to test the effect of aversion conditioning on craving in rats.

First, they tested how long it took rats to run the length of a box towards an item they had been made to crave. During this phase, each of the rats would take less than 3 seconds to complete the task.

For the conditioning phase, the researchers split up the rats into four groups, assigning each group a different variation of aversion treatment.

Each rat was once again placed into the box, but this time given a harmless electric jolt upon touching the target object.

The goal was to condition the rats to overcome their impulses and stay away from the objects they craved.

Within just 7 sessions, some rats were completely avoiding the target object, even though they had previously craved it.

What’s more, it only took an average of 13 sessions to condition 50% of the rats to stay completely clear of the target object.

Conditioning through electric jolts works for people too!

The study mentioned above deals with how harmless electric jolts can condition rats to stay away from an object they previously craved.

Before conditioning, these rats would race towards the desired object in less than 3 seconds. After the conditioning process, they would stay in the box for up to 2 minutes without approaching the target object.

Aversion conditioning works. The great news is that it has been proven to work for people too.

It can effectively help people break habits, overcome cravings and regain control over compulsive behavior.

In fact, there are many studies proving the effectiveness of these little jolts in overcoming compulsive behavior, as well as persistent habits such as nail biting, smoking, alcoholism, overeating, and gambling.

References

Lovibond, S. (1963, 12). Intermittent reinforcement in behaviour therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1(2-4), 127-132. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(63)90015-9

 

Marijuana — It’s your choice, but in case you want to quit…

This article is not intended to lecture people on whether they should smoke marijuana or not.

Rather, it is aimed at those who are chronic marijuana users, who would like to quit, but are finding it difficult to break the habit.

It describes the results of an experiment where researchers used small, harmless, electric jolts to help chronic marijuana users quit their habit.

If you — or anyone you know — are struggling with a marijuana-smoking habit and are looking to quit, this article will point you in the right direction.

Guess what… Marijuana is addictive too

It is estimated that 9 percent of people who use marijuana become dependent on it.[1][7]

For daily users the number jumps up to anywhere between 25 and 50 percent.[5][6]

Additionally, chronic marijuana users who are trying to quit, often experience withdrawal symptoms. These include irritability, mood and sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, cravings, restlessness, and/or various forms of physical discomfort.

These symptoms peak within the first week after quitting, and last up to 2 weeks.[3][4]

If you’ve ever tried quitting even the tiniest habit, you know how difficult it can be, even if you’re not suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Clinical trial — Small electric jolts help chronic marijuana users quit habit

In a clinical trial (Smith, Schmeling, Knowles, 1988), a group of volunteer, adult, chronic marijuana users, underwent five sessions of conditioning, utilizing THC-free marijuana.

The 5 sessions took place over five days and were followed by three weekly sessions in self-management counseling.

The participants had been users for an average of 13.7 years and smoked an average of 3.4 marijuana cigarettes daily.

During the session, participants were asked to smoke a THC-free marijuana joint normally. During the process, they were randomly given small, electric jolts which they described as “uncomfortable but not painful”.

Additionally, participants were given a device to wear around the wrist outside treatment sessions. Every time marijuana smoking came to mind, they were to use the device to create discomfort and further condition themselves to stay away from the habit.

The five sessions were followed up by three weekly sessions of group therapy.

100% of participants quit marijuana within just 5 days — 84.2% of participants still clean 1 year later

By the end of the sessions, all participants had quit marijuana completely.

Participants were given follow-up interviews 6 months and 12 months following the treatment. Those who had relapsed were given additional aversion sessions.

As a result, at the 12 month follow-up interview, a stunning 84.2% were still completely clean of their marijuana-smoking habit.

References

1. Anthony, J. C., Warner, L. A., & Kessler, R. C. (1994, 12). Comparative epidemiology of dependence on tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, and inhalants: Basic findings from the National Comorbidity Survey. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2(3), 244-268. doi: 10.1037//1064-1297.2.3.244
2. Budney, A., Roffman, R., Stephens, R., & Walker, D. (2007, 12). Marijuana Dependence and Its Treatment. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 4(1), 4-16. doi: 10.1151/ASCP07414
3. Budney, A. J., & Hughes, J. R. (2006, 12). The cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 19(3), 233-238. doi: 10.1097/01.yco.0000218592.00689.e5
4. Gorelick, D. A., Levin, K. H., Copersino, M. L., Heishman, S. J., Liu, F., Boggs, D. L., & Kelly, D. L. (2012, 12). Diagnostic criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 123(1-3), 141-147. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.11.007
5. Hall, W., & Degenhardt, L. (2009, 12). Adverse health effects of non-medical cannabis use. The Lancet, 374(9698), 1383-1391. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61037-0
6. Hall, W. (2009, 12). The adverse health effects of cannabis use: What are they, and what are their implications for policy? International Journal of Drug Policy, 20(6), 458-466. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.02.013
7. Lopez-Quintero, C., Cobos, J. P., Hasin, D. S., Okuda, M., Wang, S., Grant, B. F., & Blanco, C. (2011, 12). Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: Results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 115(1-2), 120-130. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.004
8. Smith, J. W., Schmeling, G., & Knowles, P. L. (1988, 12). A marijuana smoking cessation clinical trial utilizing THC-free marijuana, aversion therapy, and self-management counselling. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 5(2), 89-98. doi: 10.1016/0740-5472(88)90018-9

77% of Americans regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress

The words “stress”, “anxiety”and “frustration”, continue to infiltrate our everyday language. With them, they bring a number of afflictions that take over and ruin our lives.

In fact, research by the American Psychological Association (2014) shows that:

• 77% of Americans regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress
• 73% of Americans regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress

With numbers like those, there’s a good chance you too are suffering from stress-related symptoms. It might be small thing — a minor irritation; or it might be something that has a significant impact on your life, affecting your work, relationships, and peace of mind.

This article shows how a technique called “aversion conditioning” can help cure symptoms of stress-related disorders.

The research quoted below deals specifically with a stress-related disorder called “Hysterical Spasmodic Torticollis”.

You might not be suffering from Torticollis, however you should still read this article.

It will show you how aversion conditioning can help you deal with a stress-related disorder you might be suffering from right now, or in the future.

Conditioning  through electric jolts successfully eliminates Torticollis symptoms in as little as 4 sessions

Hysterical Spasmodic Torticollis affects the cervical muscles (located in the neck) causing abnormal movements or positioning of the head.

It is frustrating, painful and embarrassing, and can incapacitate sufferers to the point where they cannot function properly in everyday life. Some even end up losing their jobs and their independence.

In a study (Brierley, 1967), two persons who suffered from severe cases of Torticollis, were treated with small, electric jolts. Both had lost their jobs due to the severity of their condition.

The participants were required to wear a headband that detected the movements of their heads. As soon as the head tilted to an abnormal position, the participant would receive a small, harmless electric jolt to the wrist.

Treatment fully successful — Participants relieved of the symptoms, return to their jobs and regain freedom and dignity

By the fourth session, one participant presented no apparent inclination of the head and only reported slight stiffness while washing.

He was also able to once more drive his automobile — an ability he had lost due to his condition.

The second participant responded more slowly to treatment. However, she showed a marked improvement by the fifth session, and appeared symptom-free by the tenth session.

Ten months later she reported, “I am feeling very well now and will be starting work next week” (Brierley, 1967).

Electric jolts also successful in treating compulsive behavior

Considering the seriousness of the cases mentioned above, such a speedy recovery is remarkable.

Furthermore, there are many studies proving the effectiveness of these little jolts in overcoming compulsive behavior, as well as persistent habits such as nail biting, smoking, alcoholism, overeating, and gambling.

References

Brierley, H. (1967, 12). The treatment of hysterical spasmodic torticollis by behaviour therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 5(2), 139-142. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(67)90011-3

Stress Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015, from https://www.statisticbrain.com/stress-statistics/

Researchers use small electric jolts to help smokers quit the habit and stay smoke-free up to one year later

There are two categories of smokers.

Those in the first category are quite happy with the habit. They know and understand the risks. They’ve been warned by health professionals, and by their thinning wallet, faltering breath and all sorts of other telltale signs that this is a dangerous game they’re playing. But they choose to smoke anyways.

Hopefully, you belong to the second category.

You want to quit.

And if that’s the case, you’ve probably tried and failed more times than you care to remember.

Nothing seems to work.

• You tried smoking less — But then life happened and you went back to smoking your usual amount, if not more.
• You tried to quit overnight — But pretty soon you turned into a raging fiend on a rampage, so you decided to preserve your sanity and pick up the habit once again.
• You tried nicotine patches — But you realized they were no substitute for the “activity” of smoking, so you threw them out and bought another pack of smokes.

The list goes on and it keeps getting longer.

It’s a very disheartening picture for you and so many other smokers out there who keep trying and failing.

Why you fail at quitting smoking

It’s simple. You keep failing because smoking is a habit. And by nature, habits are reinforced every time you repeat the behavior.

You might try to exercise willpower. But willpower is a limited resource, and habits tend to outrun willpower over time.

Smoking is like a toxic relationship. Cigarettes become a part of your life. Think about it.

You smoke:

• when you have coffee
• when you socialize
• after you eat (or even while you eat)
• after sex
• while you drive
• when you’re stressed, sad, angry, upset, grieving, crying
• when you’re relaxed, enjoying yourself, happy
• when you mourn the loss of someone

The cigarette cheats you into thinking that it’s part of every one of those activities. Eventually it becomes an extension of “you”.

And that’s precisely why it’s so difficult, so terrifying, to quit smoking.

You need to reprogram your brain.

Thankfully, 80+ years ago, science discovered a method to do just that. And studies show that it has an astonishing success rate with all sorts of habits, including smoking!

Researchers use small electric jolts to successfully help 67% of smokers quit in as little as 5 days

In a research experiment, a number of smokers were treated with harmless electric jolts to help them quit smoking. The participants smoked an average of 21.5 cigarettes per day. They had all previously tried to quit smoking by their own will-power or other conventional means.

Participants were hooked up with electrodes and provided a favorite brand of cigarettes. At some point during the smoking process, they would be given a signal. This signal was followed three out of four times by an electric jolt.

The participants had been instructed to put out the cigarette upon receiving the signal. Failure to do so immediately would result in a second jolt.

Additionally, they were asked to imagine a favorite situation for smoking, such as the first cigarette of the morning. As they reached the imaginary moment of lighting the cigarette, the same signal/jolt procedure was carried out.

From 21.5 cigarettes a day, to 1.4 cigarettes a day in 3 sessions, with most participants quitting the habit within 5 sessions

By the end of the treatment, 67% of the participants had quit smoking completely, and when assessed one year later, 43% were still off cigarettes.

According to the researchers, “there was a noticeable effect after the first session” (Russell, 1970).

The attitude of participants towards cigarettes changed drastically.

In fact, feedback included comments such as “I threw it away after two draws, to my surprise”; “I took only a few puffs-I just didn’t fancy it. My mate laughed when I threw it out the window.” (Russell, 1970)

One participant even complained that the “cigarettes were stale”. (Russell, 1970)

References

Russell, M. A. (1970, 12). Effect of Electric Aversion on Cigarette Smoking. Bmj, 1(5688), 82-86. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5688.82

 

Studies show treatment via small electric jolts can give you back control over your life by stopping compulsive behavior such as scratching and hair-pulling (trichotillomania).

Everyone has their little quirks and habits. Some like their coffee in a specific mug, EVERY time. Others twirl their hair when they’re in a pensive mood or studying.

But sometimes one of these little quirks can take an unpleasant twist.

First it becomes an insistent annoyance. After a while, it starts conditioning your life in a number of small, unpleasant ways — physical discomfort, unsightly telltale signs, feelings of inadequacy and shame, and eventually embarrassment.

Pretty soon, you start becoming self-conscious, paranoid even. “Are people noticing this habit I have? Do they think I’m weird?”

And then suddenly, it’s out of control. It starts affecting your social life, your job, and your relationships. You start shying away from social events, friends, colleagues, and family.

Finally, it takes over every aspect of your life, stealing joy out of every moment.

When suffering from these compulsive behaviors, it’s easy to feel confused and broken. To outsiders it might seem ridiculous, but to the victims, it’s hell.

Friends and family — all in good faith — will dish out all sorts of useless remedies they’ve found on the internet, or through word of mouth and old wives’ tales.

Some will even make fun and jokes.

Nothing works. Rather, it makes things much, much worse.

Through all this, the compulsive behavior grow its roots deeper and deeper.

It might seem like there’s no way out, especially when nobody seems to fully understand… but there is.

Laboratory Studies – Compulsive behavior treated successfully with small electric jolts

Research (Bar, Kuypers, 1973) from the Department of Dermatology at the University of Nijmegen in The Netherlands, has found that behaviors such as trichotillomania (hair pulling) and compulsive scratching, can be treated with aversion conditioning.

The study follows the treatment of a number of patients suffering from compulsive behaviors. The researchers found the behavior was often reinforced by an “enjoyable experience, which again reinforces the urge to [act out the behavior]” (Bar, Kuypers, 1973).

So they decided to counter the ‘pleasurable feeling’ with aversive conditioning. They started giving the participants unpleasant — but not painful — electric jolts every time they felt the urge to indulge in the compulsive behavior.

Outcome — Electric jolts 100% successful in beating compulsive behavior… with lasting results

In all cases tested in the study, the unwanted behavior disappeared within a maximum of 13 weeks. For some, the offending habit was broken in as little as 14 days.

While some had minor relapses, these were easily treated with ‘booster’ sessions. Following these sessions, the habit did not return.

The participants had regained full control of their behavior, their happiness, and their life.

References

Bar, L. H., & Kuypers, B. R. (1973, 12). Behaviour therapy in dermatological practice. British Journal of Dermatology, 88(6), 591-598. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1973.tb08024.x