Objectives Transcranial direct current stimulation can be effective in reducing the craving for food, alcohol, and methamphetamine. Because its effects have not been tested on patients with opium use disorder, we investigated its efficacy when it is combined with a standard methadone maintenance therapy protocol. Methods We carried out a pretest-posttest control group method to evaluate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation at the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (right anodal/left cathodal) on opium craving, depression, and anxiety symptoms. We considered opium craving as a primary outcome as well as depression and anxiety symptoms as secondary outcomes. Sixty participants with opium use disorder were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n = 20 for each group): (1) an active transcranial direct current stimulation with methadone maintenance treatment (active tDCS group), (2) sham transcranial direct current stimulation with methadone maintenance treatment (sham tDCS group), and (3) only methadone maintenance treatment (methadone maintenance treatment group). All participants completed the Desire for Drug Questionnaire, Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale, Beck Depression Inventory II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory a week before and a week after the treatment. The outcomes were assessed by independent assessors who were blind to the treatment conditions. Results The active tDCS group had a significant reduction in opium craving, depression, and anxiety symptoms compared with the other 2 groups. Conclusions Our results provide a preliminary support for using the transcranial direct current stimulation along with methadone maintenance therapy in the treatment of patients with opium use disorder.

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Background and Objective: Nurses are among the key people who have the most relationship with patients. Effective communication skills in nurses lead to satisfaction of patients with nursing services, stress reduction in patients and speeding up their recovery. Therefore, the current study aims to determine the effect of educational intervention based on BASNEF model on communication skills of nurses with patients in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods:This is a quasi-experimental study with a control group conducted on 96 nurses working in two hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2016. The participants were randomly selected from 17 hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The data-gathering tools were a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire based on the structures of the BASNEF model. Educational intervention was performed based on the results of the pre-test in the intervention group in 3 sessions of 45 minutes. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18, statistical tests, Fisher exact test, independent t-test, ANOVA, and paired t-test. Results: The results of this study showed that the mean score of knowledge, as well as the structures of the BASNEF model were significantly different from that of the control group's after educational intervention (P<0.05), which confirms the effect of education on the basis of the BASNEF model. Conclusion: According to the results of this research, education based on the BASNEF model leads to the development of communication skills with the patient in nurses. Therefore, the researchers recommend education based on this educational model.

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