A biofeedback patch provides people with real-time monitoring of their heart rate, which can become erratic for folks stressed out by drug or alcohol cravings, researchers said. Adobe Stock/HealthDay
Oct. 3 (UPI) -- A "stress coach" smart patch can help people struggling with addiction or alcoholism manage their anxiety and cravings, lowering their risk of relapse, a new study shows.
The biofeedback patch provides people with real-time monitoring of their heart rate, which can become erratic for folks stressed out by drug or alcohol cravings, researchers said.
Overall, people using the patch had a 64% reduction in their alcohol and drug use compared to others in treatment for substance use disorders, researchers reported Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry.
"One of the hallmarks of early addiction recovery is poor self-awareness of emotional states," said lead researcher David Eddie, a psychologist at the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
