A Teleheath tDCS Approach to Decrease Cannabis Use

June 19, 2025 updated by: NYU Langone Health

A Teleheath tDCS Approach to Decrease Cannabis Use: Towards Reducing Multiple Sclerosis Disability

The study aims to evaluate the effect of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in decreasing distress and cannabis use. 46 participants with Relapse Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) and elevated distress (K10 score of 10-35) will be recruited.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
52

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10017
        • NYU Langone Health

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Ages 21-65 (inclusive)
  2. Seeking treatment to reduce or discontinue current cannabis use (smoke/vape/ingest)
  3. Current Cannabis Use Disorder per DSM-V (MINI for DSM-V)
  4. K10 score 10-35, inclusive (mild to high moderate distress)
  5. Definite MS diagnosis, relapsing remitting (RRMS) subtype
  6. PDDS score 0-7 (mild to moderate neurological disability, established to be able to complete procedures)
  7. All medications stable for ≥ 1 month prior to enrollment and throughout the trial
  8. Ability to understand the informed consent process and provide consent to participate in the study
  9. Stable and continuous access to internet service, email (WiFi "hotspot" to be provided if needed)
  10. Ability to use mobile devices
  11. Fluent in English language (due to outcomes validated in English versions only)
  12. WRAT-4 score ≥ 85

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. MS clinical relapse or use of high dose of steroids in the past month
  2. Patients under medical marijuana use prescribed by a clinician
  3. Alcohol, tobacco, or substance use disorder other than cannabis
  4. Primary neurologic, psychiatric or other medical disorder other than MS (entry MD screening)
  5. Currently meets DSM-V criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder in the past 6 months for any psychoactive substance.
  6. Meets DSM-V criteria for current panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, dissociate disorders, and any other psychotic disorder or organic mental disorder
  7. Current suicidal ideation or deemed to be of potential risk of self-injury
  8. History of traumatic brain injury
  9. Seizure disorder or recent (<5 years) seizure history
  10. Metal implants in the head or neck
  11. Enrolled in group or individual therapy for substance use disorder concurrent to intervention
  12. Any skin disorder or skin sensitive area near stimulation locations
  13. Pregnant or breastfeeding

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Active tDCS + Mindfulness
Other: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
tDCS is noninvasive brain stimulation device that modulates brain activity by delivering a low-intensity electrical current (2.0 mA) through sponge electrodes placed on the scalp.
Other: Mindfulness
Participants will follow an audio track for guided mindfulness during the stimulation.
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS + Mindfulness
Other: Mindfulness
Participants will follow an audio track for guided mindfulness during the stimulation.
Other: Sham - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
The tDCS device is programmed to mimic active tDCS.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
K10 is a 10-item questionnaire intended to yield a global measure of distress based on questions about anxiety and depressive symptoms that a person has experienced in the most recent 4 week period. Each question is given a score between 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). The total score ranges from 10 to 50. People with scores < 20 are likely to be well, 20-24 are likely to have a mild mental disorder, 25-29 are likely to have moderate mental disorder, and > 30 are likely to have a severe mental disorder.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Positive Affect (PANAS-PA)
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
The PA subscale includes 10 items describing positive mood states (e.g., "enthusiastic," "interested," "proud"), each rated on a Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores indicate greater levels of positive affect, reflecting an individual's engagement, energy, and pleasurable involvement with the environment.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Negative Affect (PANAS-NA)
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
The NA subscale consists of 10 items representing negative mood states (e.g., "upset," "nervous," "hostile"), each rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores reflect greater levels of negative affect, capturing distress and unpleasurable engagement with the environment.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Change in Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ-17) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

MCQ is a standardized measure assessing marijuana craving. Each statement is scored on a 7 point likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree).

Questions 1-7 measure compulsivity. Questions 8-11 measure emotionality. Questions 12-15 measure expectations. Questions 16-17 measure purposefulness. The total score is the average response score and ranges from 1-7; higher scored indicate greater levels of marijuana craving.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Change in Cannabis Withdrawal Scale (CWS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
The version of CWS used in the study asks about symptoms experienced over the last 24 hours and consists of 19 statements. For each statement, its negative impact on normal daily activities is rated on a likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 190; higher scores indicate that symptoms are having a larger negative impact on normal daily activities.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Change in Number of Weekly Sessions of Cannabis Use
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Self-reported measure.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Change in Number of Monthly Sessions of Cannabis Use
Time Frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)
Self-reported measure.
Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Score
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
K10 is a 10-item questionnaire intended to yield a global measure of distress based on questions about anxiety and depressive symptoms that a person has experienced in the most recent 4 week period. Each question is given a score between 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). The total score ranges from 10 to 50. People with scores < 20 are likely to be well, 20-24 are likely to have a mild mental disorder, 25-29 are likely to have moderate mental disorder, and > 30 are likely to have a severe mental disorder.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Positive Affect (PANAS-PA)
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
The PA subscale includes 10 items describing positive mood states (e.g., "enthusiastic," "interested," "proud"), each rated on a Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores indicate greater levels of positive affect, reflecting an individual's engagement, energy, and pleasurable involvement with the environment.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Negative Affect (PANAS-NA)
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
The NA subscale consists of 10 items representing negative mood states (e.g., "upset," "nervous," "hostile"), each rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores reflect greater levels of negative affect, capturing distress and unpleasurable engagement with the environment.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Change in Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ-17) Score
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

MCQ is a standardized measure assessing marijuana craving. Each statement is scored on a 7 point likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree).

Questions 1-7 measure compulsivity. Questions 8-11 measure emotionality. Questions 12-15 measure expectations. Questions 16-17 measure purposefulness. The total score is the average response score and ranges from 1-7; higher scored indicate greater levels of marijuana craving.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Change in Cannabis Withdrawal Scale (CWS) Score
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
The version of CWS used in the study asks about symptoms experienced over the last 24 hours and consists of 19 statements. For each statement, its negative impact on normal daily activities is rated on a likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 190; higher scores indicate that symptoms are having a larger negative impact on normal daily activities.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Change in Number of Weekly Sessions of Cannabis Use
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Self-reported measure.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Change in Number of Monthly Sessions of Cannabis Use
Time Frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3
Self-reported measure.
End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
NYU Langone Health

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Leigh Charvet, PhD, NYU Langone Health

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 13, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 14, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 22, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 12, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 12, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 13, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 24, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 19, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 21-01028

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices) will be shared upon reasonable request.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The investigator who proposed to use the data will have access to the data upon reasonable request. Requests should be directed to leigh.charvet@nyulangone.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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