Closed-loop TBS Targeting rPO for the Core Clinical Features of the Methamphetamine Use Disorder

August 16, 2026 updated by: Shanghai Mental Health Center

A Pilot Single-Arm Study of Closed-Loop TBS Theta-Burst Stimulation Targeting the Right Parietal-Occipital Cortex for Core Clinical Features of Methamphetamine Use Disorder

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether closed-loop theta-burst stimulation (TBS) targeting the right parietal-occipital cortex (rPO) can improve core clinical symptoms in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD), such as cue-reactivity and impaired inhibitory control.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can closed-loop rPO-TBS significantly reduce cue-reactivity, as measured by a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and a cue-reactivity task? Does closed-loop stimulation enhance cognitive control, assessed by performance on the Stop Signal Task (SST)?

Researchers will administer closed loop TBS to determine whether it can improve the core symptoms of MUD.

Participants will:

Complete a single closed-loop sessions. Receive theta-burst stimulation targeting the right parietal-occipital cortex while complete the cue-reactivity task.

Undergo cue-reactivity assessment using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and complete the Stop Signal Task (SST) before and after the stimulation session.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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 (Estimated)

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.
5

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.
  • Not Applicable

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

  • China
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200000
        • Shanghai Mental Health Center, 200030
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18 years old or older, ....with at least 9 years of education (junior high school or above) or able to fully understand the task.
  • Meets DSM-5 for mild/severe amphetamine-type substance use disorder.
  • History of amphetamine-type substance use for no less than 1 year, with use at least once per week.
  • Has not received pharmacological treatment for substance use.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of any organic disease, or diagnosis of any other psychiatric disorder according to DSM-5 (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depression disorder).
  • Contraindications to TMS, as assessed by the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Adult Safety Screen (TASS).
  • Inability to complete assessments, treatment procedures, or follow-up due to cognitive or behavioral limitations.

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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: Closed-loop Group

Before stimulation:

The researchers measure the participant's Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) and assess their craving using VAS before and after view a methamphetamine-related video.

The participants complete SST.

During the stimulation phase, participants will:

First undergo a training phase, during which EEG will be recorded while they perform a cue-reactivity task to identify neural signatures and calculate stimulation thresholds.

Then perform the cue-reactivity task again, and real-time EEG features will be used to trigger TMS in a closed-loop mode.

After the stimulation, participants will:

The researchers again assess their craving using VAS before and after viewing a methamphetamine-related video.

The participants again complete the SST. The researchers record adverse reactions and adverse events, and evaluate the blinding effect, through a Blinding Assessment Questionnaire.
Device: Closed-loop Theta-Burst Stimulation (TBS) Targeting rPO
Participants receive theta-burst stimulation (TBS) over the right parietal-occipital cortex (rPO), triggered by real time by EEG signals recorded during a cue-reactivity task. This closed-loop protocol aims to deliver stimulation precisely during neural states associated with cue-induced reactivity.
Other Names:
  • EEG-TMS
  • Closed-loop rPO-TBS

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
Cue-Induced Neural Reactivity During Before and After Stimulation
Time Frame: During cue-reactivity task in training and stimulation phases of each session.
EEG signals will be recorded while participants perform a cue-reactivity task during both the training phase (no stimulation) and the stimulation phase (with TBS). The primary outcome will be changes in cue-induced neural reactivity, defined by EEG features such as event-related potentials (ERPs) and power spectral density (e.g., theta or alpha power) in response to methamphetamine-related cues.
During cue-reactivity task in training and stimulation phases of each session.

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 Cue-Induced Craving Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Before and within 30 minutes after stimulation
Participants will rate their craving levels after viewing methamphetamine-related videos using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no craving) to 100 (maximum craving).
Before and within 30 minutes after stimulation
Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by Stop Signal Task (SST)
Time Frame: Before and within 30 minutes after stimulation
Participants will complete the Stop Signal Task (SST) before and after each stimulation session. Measures such as Stop Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) and accuracy will be used to assess changes in inhibitory control performance.
Before and within 30 minutes after stimulation

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.
Shanghai Mental Health Center

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 (Estimated)

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.
August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
December 1, 2026

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 16, 2026

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 16, 2026

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 20, 2026

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.
August 20, 2026

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.
August 16, 2026

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.
August 1, 2026

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.
  • MZhao-030

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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