Emotional Brain Training for Addiction Medicine Treatment - A Pilot Study
Loma Linda University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether Emotional Brain Training (EBT), a behavioral modification method, can help manage stress and health problems related to addiction. EBT teaches skills to deactivate harmful circuits (automatic reactions) and activate healing circuits to quickly shift mood from negative to positive. Participants in the EBT group will receive focused, intensive instruction on using these skills to rewire unwanted brain circuits, with the aim of achieving lasting improvements in emotional health and quality of life. The study will assess whether EBT is an effective tool when added to standard of care (SOC), which includes medications for addiction treatment (MAT). Researchers will compare changes in stress, anxiety, and cravings after 8 weeks of EBT plus SOC versus SOC alone. Participants: * will either continue receiving standard treatments (SOC) at the Addiction Recovery Clinic (ARC) at SAC Health in San Bernardino * or receive both EBT and SOC at ARC * in the SOC group will continue monthly visits at ARC and weekly counseling * in the EBT plus SOC group will continue monthly visits and weekly counseling at ARC, along with weekly EBT group sessions by telephone * will complete online assessments at weeks 0, 4, and 8 Upon completion of the study, all participants will resume SOC
Description
Background Information and Rationale Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder defined by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces a natural reward, despite significant harm and negative consequences. Repetitive substance use alters brain function, perpetuating craving and weakening self-control, while not completely negating it. Addiction is now recognized as a complex brain disorder influenced by both neurobiological and psychosocial factors. Effective treatment typically combines pharmacological approaches with behavioral interventions, such as cogn…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years old or older * Patient can speak and read English * Patient who receives regular MAT care at SAC Health * Patients who have regular and reliable cellular and/or reliable internet connection * Patients who are willing to spend average of 25 minutes per day and attend weekly group meetings * Patients willing to actively participate in group sessions * Opioid use disorder, at least in early remission * Alcohol use disorder, at least in early remission * Methamphetamine use disorder, at least in early remission * Cocaine use disorder, at least in early remission…
Interventions
- BehavioralEmotional Brain Training
Emotional Brain Training (EBT) is a structured, neuroscience-based behavioral intervention that focuses on rewiring the brain's stress-related circuits to promote emotional resilience, self-regulation, and lasting behavioral change. This behavioral intervention has not been implemented in addiction treatments in the past. Unlike traditional therapies that primarily target cognitive processes or symptom management, EBT directly addresses the physiological and emotional root causes of maladaptive behaviors by engaging the brain's natural neuroplasticity mechanisms. EBT integrates rapid emotional processing tools, peer-to-peer support, clinician-facilitated sessions, and mobile app-based self-care to systematically transition brain circuits from stress-reactive to stress-resilient states.
- OtherStandard addiction counseling and medical therapy
Participants will receive standard counseling (including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, etc.), which does not include EBT, in addition to medications for addiction treatment (including but not limited to buprenorphine, naltrexone, bupropion, etc.).
Location
- Addiction Recovery Clinic at SAC HealthSan Bernardino, California