A recent article published by Psychiatric Times and authored by Muhammad Parvaz examined the potential of cognitive control training in treating substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly stimulant addiction, by reducing drug cravings and brain responses to drug-related cues. Specifically, Parvaz discussed the difficulties in the treatment of SUDs, also noting the limited availability of medications approved by the FDA. According to him, the existing therapeutic gap also contributes to the high patient relapse rates.
According to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website, in 2022, more than one in six Americans aged 12 or older reported experiencing a SUD. In his interview, Parvaz also discussed his research, which focused on long-term changes in the brain and behaviour during abstinence and treatment of SUDs. Moreover, his group aims to develop behavioural interventions targeting cognitive control mechanisms, with one of the approaches involving training patients “to volitionally down-regulate or decrease craving when we are, when we face context and cues that remind us of the drug.” Using neuroimaging, Parvaz found that individuals with stimulant use disorders could reduce brain reactivity to drug-related cues, indicating decreased neural responses linked to craving.
Moreover, Parvaz highlighted that cravings arise from the interaction between cognitive and emotional processes and can be triggered by internal or external cues. He emphasized that recognizing cravings early is crucial, as delayed awareness makes them harder to control, underscoring the need to identify triggers and use cognitive coping strategies in personalized treatment.
Finally, the researcher also emphasized the importance of incorporating perspectives from individuals with lived experience and caregivers into research and treatment development. He expressed hope for greater funding, stronger industry collaboration, and progress in pharmacological, behavioral, neuromodulatory, and AI-based treatments, while stressing the need for rigorous oversight to maintain scientific integrity and reduce stigma by recognizing substance use disorders as biologically based conditions.
