Combining Ketamine, Brain Stimulation (rTMS) and Mindfulness Therapy (TIMBER) for Opioid Addiction
Cureus November 1, 2020 B. Pradhan, Garrett Rossi
Opioid addiction remains a national crisis in the United States despite available treatments. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and subanesthetic ketamine are each effective for opioid use disorders (OUD) when used alone, but their benefits can fade after treatment stops. No prior study has combined both treatments for OUD. TIMBER therapy, which alters emotionally charged memories through extinction and reconsolidation, has been successful in chronic PTSD and with ketamine. TIMBER balances memory extinction and reconsolidation approaches, avoiding over-flooding or retraumatization, and shows superior efficacy in PTSD and potential benefit in substance use disorders.