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Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulations in Patients With Amphetamine Use Disorders
Sponsor: TsaoTun Psychiatric Center, Department of Health, Taiwan
Summary
Amphetamine Use Disorder (AUD) is a major public health issue in Taiwan, where it is the most commonly abused illegal drug. There are currently no effective approved medications to treat it, which makes finding new treatment options urgent. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation method, has shown promise in reducing cravings and drug use in people with addiction, but its effects on AUD are not well studied. To explore this, the investigators plan to conduct a double-blind, sham-controlled study with 20 people diagnosed with AUD. Half will receive real rTMS treatment, and half will receive a placebo-like sham treatment. The treatment targets a specific brain area (the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and will be given 10 times over two weeks. The investigators will assess the effectiveness of rTMS by tracking drug cravings, urine test results, and side effects with follow-up over 12 weeks. The investigators also include brain imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) after the treatment. The study aims to better understand how rTMS might help reduce amphetamine cravings and improve outcomes, potentially leading to new treatment options for AUD.
Official title: A Pilot Study for the Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients With Amphetamine Use Disorders: Clinical Outcomes, Near InfraRed Spectroscopy, and Biomarkers
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
20 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2025-05-15
Completion Date
2025-12-31
Last Updated
2025-05-07
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Targeting: The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) will be the target for treatment. Equipment: rTMS will be delivered using a Magstim super rapid magnetic stimulator with a 70-mm air-cooled figure-eight-shaped coil. Resting Motor Threshold (rMT) Measurement: rMT is determined through visual twitch responses in the contralateral hand, identifying the minimal intensity needed to elicit thumb movement in 50% of trials. rTMS will be administered at a frequency of 15Hz, with each pulse at 100% rMT intensity. Sessions include 60 pulses per train, with a 26-second inter-train pause, across 40 trains, totaling 2400 pulses over a 20-minute session.
sham for repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
The sham group will undergo a placebo procedure using the same rTMS parameters but with a figure-of-eight sham coil, following precedents set by studies on cocaine use disorder treatment (Terraneo et al., 2016).
Locations (1)
TsaoTun Psychiatric Center
Nantou City, Taiwan