Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Alcohol Use Disorder

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Alcohol Use Disorder: Effects on Dopamine Transporter and Alcohol Intake

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may affect neuro-adaptations associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD), potentially influencing craving and alcohol intake.

Investigators investigated alcohol intake and dopamine transporter (DAT) availability by Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in the striatum of AUD patients before and after deep rTMS.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Alcohol Dependence
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Detailed Description

The study included AUD patients. Patients were enrolled by the alcohol addiction unit of the Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of the Catholic University in Rome, Italy, according to the inclusion criteria. Screening collection of medical history, physical, neurological and psychiatric examinations as well as laboratory tests were performed. Moreover, patients were underwent to baseline SPECT assessment of striatal DAT availability using 123I-N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (123I-FP-CIT) as the radiotracer. Subsequently, patients were randomized in two groups (matched for gender and age) by a computer program for the REAL deep rTMS or SHAM. After weekly sessions of deep rTMS for four weeks, patients were underwent to the same clinical assessment as in the screening phase and second SPECT .

Moreover, the alcohol intake during both the four weeks prior to the enrollment and the 4 weeks of rTMS sessions were assessed through the Timeline Followback (TLFB) interview, an instrument providing a retrospective estimation of the number of drinks per drinking days, the number of drinking days, the number of abstinence days, the number of heavy drinking days and the total number of drinks. Patients were also evaluated with Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS), Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (STAI Y1 and STAI Y2),Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Rm
    • Rome, Rm, Italy, 00168
      • Catholic University of Rome

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least two days a week of excessive alcohol consumption during the month prior to screening;
• Ability to provide informed consent;
• A Clinical Institute of Withdrawal Assessment in Alcohol Withdrawal score < 10;
• Willingness to abstain from or substantially reduce alcohol consumption;
• Permanent residence.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinically significant psychiatric diseases;
• Past or current abuse or dependence on substances other than alcohol or nicotine;
• Neurological disorders;
• Unstable medical conditions;
• Pacemakers, implanted metallic pumps, metal implant;
• History of complicated withdrawal symptoms;
• Current use of psychoactive drugs;
• Epilepsy;
• Current use of anticonvulsants, insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents;
• Positive urine toxicological screening;
• Pregnancy;
• Participation in other clinical trial in the last 60 days;
• Involvement in a compulsory medical treatment or pending criminal proceedings.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Deep rTMS; The intervention consisted of deep rTMS of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex through the Brainsway Deep TMS System using an H-shaped coil . The motor threshold was measured by delivering a single pulse to the motor cortex. The site of stimulation was located 5.5 cm anterior to the point at which maximum stimulation of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle was reached. Each patient received a total of 12 rTMS sessions (three sessions per week): 20 trains per session at an intensity of 100% of the motor threshold, 50 pulses per train at a frequency of 10 Hertz, an inter-train interval of 15 seconds.	Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; The sham stimulation consisted of rTMS sessions without an effective instrument operation.	Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Dopamine Transporter availability in the striatum throgh Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)	Week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in alcohol intake	Week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Giovanni Addolorato, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Italy

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 3, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2016
• First Posted (Estimated): August 10, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2024
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcoholism
• Other Study ID Numbers: TMSAlcoholDependeceStudy