(1) Background: Pathological gambling behaviors may coexist with cocaine use disorder (CUD), underlying common pathogenic mechanisms. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown promise as a therapeutic intervention for CUD. In this case series, we evaluated the clinical effects of rTMS protocol stimulating the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on the pattern of gambling and cocaine use. (2) Methods: Gambling severity, craving for cocaine, sleep, and other negative affect symptoms were recorded in seven patients with a diagnosis of gambling disorder (South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) >5), in comorbidity with CUD, using the following scales: Gambling-Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS), Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (CCQ), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Symptoms checklist-90 (SCL-90). The measures were assessed before the rTMS treatment and after 5, 30, and 60 days of treatment. Patterns of gambling and cocaine use were assessed by self-report and regular urine screens. (3) Results: Gambling severity at baseline ranged from mild to severe (mean ± Standard Error of the Mean (SEM), G-SAS score baseline: 24.42 ± 2.79). G-SAS scores significantly improved after treatment (G-SAS score Day 60: 2.66 ± 1.08). Compared to baseline, consistent improvements were significantly seen in craving for cocaine and in negative-affect symptoms. (4) Conclusions: The present findings provide unprecedent insights into the potential role of rTMS as a therapeutic intervention for reducing both gambling and cocaine use in patients with a dual diagnosis.
In the second half of the last century the continuous development of hypotheses, theories and models from different disciplines has made several changes in the epistemological structure of cognitive science. This profoundly changed the mechanistic vision of the previous accepted model. The birth of a holistic epistemological paradigm-that considers the human body as a network of integrated communication- increases its relevance in Western scientific world, embracing a vision of close interconnection and interdependence between mind and body. The epistemology of complexity is the fundamental starting point for a proper study of human being and of human knowledge. In addition, it represents a meeting point between Eastern medical tradition and the current scientific conceptions from quantum physics, favoring the integration of care and prevention systems in psychology and medicine. KEYWORDS Epistemology, complexity, holism, extended mind, quantum physics.
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