FAQs

Neural Pathway Therapy is considered safe when administered by certified professionals following established protocols. It is non-invasive and typically well-tolerated by most individuals.

After concluding over 2 million sessions, the side-effects are minor and are restricted to the sensor location. In less than 2% of patients, side effects of Neural Pathway Therapy may include mild discomfort or tingling sensations at the site of the sensor, mild headache, fatigue, or skin irritation. These side effects are usually temporary and resolve shortly after the session. It should be noted that these latter three side-effects have been illustrated to occur at nearly the same rate as sham application.

Incorrect Neural Pathway Therapy administration can elicit standard skin irritation. There is no scientific evidence that demonstrates lasting injury or irreversible side effects from Neural Pathway Therapy.

Before undergoing Neural Pathway Therapy, patients should undergo a thorough evaluation to assess their suitability for treatment and to discuss any potential risks or concerns with their healthcare provider.

Neural Pathway Therapy is safe and applies only 2 milli-amps (mA) of current.  To put this in perspective, a 9 volt alkaline battery produces 2000 mA which is 1000 times more than what is used for Neural Pathway Therapy. 

The duration of Neural Pathway Therapy treatment can vary depending on individual needs, treatment goals, and the severity of the condition. While some individuals may experience significant improvements after just a few sessions, others may require ongoing treatment over several weeks or months to achieve optimal outcomes.

Generally, a course of Neural Pathway Therapy may consist of multiple sessions scheduled regularly over a specified period. The treating therapist will determine the frequency and duration of treatment based on factors such as treatment response, progress, and individual circumstances.

To maximize the long lasting benefits of this therapy, it’s important for individuals undergoing to commit to the recommended treatment schedule and actively participate in their recovery journey.

The initial Neural Pathway Therapy session lasts 45-55 minutes and includes an assessment conducted between the patient and their Certified Neural Pathway Therapist to determine the custom treatment plan based on the analysis. Each subsequent session typically lasts approximately 25 minutes. During this time, the individual receives targeted brain activations and discusses goals/results with the therapist. 

As of January 2024, the rate for a single session of Neural Pathway Therapy is $300 USD. During the initial consultation with a Certified Neural Pathway Therapist, it’s recommended to inquire about the total cost of treatment and any potential payment options or financing arrangements.

Individuals seeking Neural Pathway Therapy should also check with their insurance provider to determine if the treatment is covered under their plan and to inquire about any out-of-pocket expenses or reimbursement policies.

Neural Pathway Therapy is often used as a complementary approach alongside other evidence-based addiction treatment modalities to enhance treatment outcomes and promote lasting recovery.

Integrating Neural Pathway Therapy with traditional addiction treatment approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can provide a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to addressing addiction.

Neural Pathway Therapy targets the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of addiction, helping to disrupt maladaptive neural circuits and reduce cravings, while behavioral therapies and medications address psychological and physiological aspects of addiction.

By combining multiple treatment modalities, clinicians can tailor treatment plans to meet each client’s needs and preferences, maximizing the effectiveness of therapy and supporting long-term change.

The use of medications while receiving Neural Pathway Therapy is an important consideration and should be discussed with your healthcare provider. The interaction between Neural Pathway Therapy and medications can vary depending on the type of medication, the condition being treated, and individual patient factors. Here are some general guidelines and considerations:

Consult Your Healthcare Provider: Always consult with your doctor or the Certified Neural Pathway Therapist about any medications you are taking. They can provide personalized advice based on your medical history and the specifics of your treatment.

Types of Medications: Some medications can potentially influence the effects of Neural Pathway Therapy. For instance:

Antidepressants: Certain antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been studied in combination with tDCS. Some studies suggest that tDCS can be safely combined with these medications with improved outcomes.

Research Evidence: Some studies have explored the combined effects of tDCS and medications. For instance, Brunoni et al. (2013) examined the combination of tDCS with sertraline (an SSRI) for depression treatment and found it to be effective and safe in a controlled setting); in fact it showed that the combination was more efficacious than either modality used individually.  (See  Brunoni et al. (2013)below footnote and # 4 on the Research Evidence page Efficacy of tDCS as an adjunct to Medication Assisted Therapy.

Individual Variation: The response to tDCS can be highly individual, and the same applies to medication interactions. Factors such as dosage, duration of medication use, and individual neurobiology can influence outcomes.

Clinical Protocols: In clinical trials and research settings, protocols often include specific guidelines on medication use during tDCS treatment. These guidelines help ensure safety and consistency in the study results.

Brunoni et al. (2013) Footnote:

Brunoni, A. R., Valiengo, L., Baccaro, A., Zanao, T. A., de Oliveira, J. F., Goulart, A., ... & Fregni, F. (2013). The sertraline vs. electrical current therapy for treating depression clinical study: results from a factorial, randomized, controlled trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(4), 383-391. DOI: 10.1001/2013.jamapsychiatry.32

Conclusion:

A large number of clinical trails support Neural Pathway Therapy as a safe and more efficaciout adjunct to many medications,  Nonetheless, the interaction between the two can be complex and requires careful management. It is crucial to discuss all medications with your healthcare provider before starting NPT to ensure the safety and efficacy of the treatment. This approach helps tailor the treatment to your specific needs and minimizes potential risks.

Yes, increasing neuroplasticity can be beneficial in overcoming mood disorders and recovery from addiction, particularly in addressing alterations in the brain's reward pathways. Here's how:

1. Reversing Maladaptive Changes: Addiction-related alterations in the reward system often involve changes in synaptic strength, neurotransmitter release, and neural circuitry. By increasing neuroplasticity, it may be possible to reverse some of these maladaptive changes, restoring more normal functioning within the reward pathways.

2. Learning New Coping Mechanisms: Neuroplasticity enables the brain to form new connections and learn new behaviors. By promoting neuroplasticity, individuals in recovery can more effectively learn and implement coping mechanisms to deal with cravings, triggers, and stressors without resorting to drug-seeking behavior.

3. Enhancing Treatment Efficacy: Therapeutic interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) rely on neuroplasticity to help individuals modify maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors associated with addiction. By enhancing neuroplasticity, these treatments may be more effective in promoting lasting behavioral change and preventing relapse.

4. Facilitating Neurogenesis: Some research suggests that increasing neuroplasticity may promote neurogenesis, the growth of new neurons, particularly in brain regions implicated in addiction. This could potentially help repair some of the damage caused by chronic substance abuse and support recovery.

5. Strengthening Resilience: Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt and recover from adversity. By promoting neuroplasticity, individuals in recovery can strengthen their resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks, which is essential for maintaining sobriety in the face of challenges.

In summary, increasing neuroplasticity can play a crucial role in creating lasting changes.  By facilitating the reversal of maladaptive changes in the brain's reward pathways and promoting the learning of new coping mechanisms it enhances treatment efficacy, supports neurogenesis, and strengthening cognitive resilience. Neural Pathway Therapy enhances neuroplasticity and when used alongside traditional treatments, the combination produces more successful outcomes.

The Neural Pathway Therapy sessions are administered by a Certified Neural Pathway Therapist using a proprietary technology called the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is a professional-grade device with EEG capabilities and has many features that help ensure the therapy is safe, measurable, and reliable. 

During the Neural Pathway Therapy experience, 5% of the patients will feel a mild tingling, prickling, itching, or warmth. Measuring before and after each pulse is sent in real time. These sensations are not painful and go away when stimulation stops. Neural Pathway Therapy offers patients a highly targeted approach with lower intensity and shorter duration than standard tDCS protocols. The average session for a traditional tDCS is placing the electrodes on just two different parts of the head. Neural Pathway Therapy is highly targeted, and the electrodes can be placed in over 80 separate locations based on the protocol series. This difference provides the patient with both a safer and more efficient session. Patient outcomes typically include a greater ability to focus, higher clarity, reduced craving, improved cognitive control.

What don’t we know about Neural Pathway Therapy and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)?

There are decades of research on tDCS. Recent work suggests glial activation and the alteration of intracellular cAMP and calcium concentrations as well as increase in the endogenous opiod receptor availability. It is also understood that the plasticity of the human brain can allow lasting excitability changes as a result of tDCS application, namely, long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD).

What is Long Term Potentiation

In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent activity patterns. These are patterns of synaptic activity that produce a long-lasting increase in signal transmission between two neurons.[2] The opposite of LTP is long-term depression, which produces a long-lasting decrease in synaptic strength. Neural Pathway Therapy sends predetermined pulses (size and duration based on protocol) specifically designed to strengthen synapses in up to 80 highly targeted areas on the head.

Neural Pathway Therapy incorporates the Pathfinder device which is a non-medical device and does not require FDA-approval in order to provide treatments in the USA. tDCS is approved for medical treatment in much of the world including the European Union, Israel, and Singapore. 

The FDA typically does not regulate non-medical use of devices, which includes uses for “wellness” purposes. In this sense, it is important to note that tDCS is broadly considered by researchers and experts as low-risk. In fact, the FDA has provided “513g” letters to multiple manufacturers explicitly allowing them to market tDCS for specific non-medical uses.

The FDA also does not regulate the practice of medicine, meaning they don't regulate doctors. For this reason, many doctors provide “off-label” treatments that doctors think work but do not have a “marketing” label from the FDA to the company. 

Traditional addiction treatment approaches such as counseling and medication management remain valuable components of comprehensive care.  Neural Pathway Therapy offers a distinct advantage in its ability to target underlying neurobiological mechanisms directly. Unlike pharmacological interventions which may carry the risk of side effects or potential for misuse, Neural Pathway Therapy is non-invasive and well-tolerated, making it an effective adjunctive therapy for individuals seeking long lasting behavioral changes. By complementing existing treatment modalities with Neural Pathway Therapy, clinicians can address addiction from both psychological and neurobiological perspectives, enhancing the likelihood of sustained recovery.