Combining Neuro-Imaging and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Clinical Intervention in Opioid Use Disorder

The overarching goal of this project is to expand the traditional expertise in non-invasive neuromodulation at the University of Minnesota towards developing novel paired-neuromodulation approaches using transcrancial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for new addiction treatments that support long-term abstinence. This study will investigate whether the pairing of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation and cognitive training can enhance functional connectivity between DLPFC and nucleus accumbens (NAcc). We have identified higher functional connectivity between DLPFC and NAcc in alcoholics that have successfully maintained abstinence for extended periods of time (7 years). This paired-neuromodulation approach can potentially be used as a therapeutic intervention to decrease substance use probability in addiction (e.g. opioid use disorder). The long term goal is to develop new addiction treatments that support long-term abstinence in opioid use disorder. The overall objective of this proposal is to enhance functional connectivity between DLPFC and NAcc as a therapeutic intervention to enhance cognition and reduce substance use rates in opioid use disorder.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Opioid-Related Disorders; Heroin Dependence; Morphine Dependence
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); Behavioral: Cognitive Training; Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 9
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
      • University of Minnesota

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 56 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current diagnosis of opioid use disorder
• Enrolled in a methadone treatment program for at least 2 months in Hennepin Healthcare and be clinically stable.
• Meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder
• Participants may have current comorbid drug use, but their primary substance use disorder diagnosis must to be based on opioid use.
• Participants must have the intention to remain in the methadone treatment program until the end of the intervention portion of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any medical condition or treatment with neurological sequelae (i.e. stroke, tumor, loss of consciousness>30 min, HIV)
• Head injury resulting in a skull fracture or a loss of consciousness exceeding 30 minutes (i.e., moderate or severe TBI)
• Any contraindications for tDCS or MRI scanning (tDCS contraindication: actively receiving treatment for seizures or epilepsy; MRI contraindications; metal implants, pacemakers or any other implanted electrical device, injury with metal, braces, dental implants, non-removable body piercings, pregnancy, breathing or moving disorder)
• Current active psychosis or mania
• Presence of a condition that would render study measures difficult or impossible to administer or interpret (e.g. current mania, active psychosis)
• Primary current substance use disorder diagnosis on a substance other than opioid except for caffeine or nicotine
• Current stimulant use disorder (need to be free of stimulant use for at least 1 month)
• History of electroconvulsive therapy or cortical energy exposure within the past 12 months, including participation in any other neuromodulation studies
• incarceration

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: tDCS with Cognitive Training; DLPFC stimulation with tDCS with simultaneous cognitive training	Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); Participants receive 10 sessions (2 5-visit blocks of 46 minutes) of active tDCS to DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex); Behavioral: Cognitive Training; Executive functioning tasks
Active Comparator: Sham tDCS with Cognitive Training; Sham tDCS with simultaneous cognitive training	Behavioral: Cognitive Training; Executive functioning tasks; Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); Participants receive 10 sessions (1 5-visit block of 46 minutes of active tDCS and 1 5-visit block of sham tDCS)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
(A1) Average Number of Serious Adverse Events in Active and Sham Groups.	Safety was defined as the prevalence of Serious Adverse Events for the study. Subjects were monitored for Serious Adverse Events from date of first intervention session until the final follow-up visit (2 months post-intevention). Subjects were monitored using the Symptom Rating Questionnaire (SRQ), Medication/Medical Update Interview, and medical chart review. Serious Adverse Events were defined as: Death, life threatening incidents, hospitalizations (initial or prolonged), disability or permanent damage, congenital anomaly or birth defect, or an event that required intervention to prevent permanent impairment or damage. Mean and standard deviation of Serious Adverse Events was recorded across groups. A lower number indicates fewer Serious Adverse Events.	2months post-intervention
(A2) Activation Levels in Brain Circuits in Active and Sham Groups.	Brain activation change from pre-intervention to post-intervention was planned to be compard between active tDCS and sham groups. We hypothesized that the active tDCS group will have a larger increase in brain circuit engagement than the sham group and, thus, a better outcome.	1-week post-intervention
(A3) Changes in Scaled Score on Digit Span Task.	Cognitive performance change was compared between active tDCS and sham groups. Cognitive performance change was defined as improvement on the WAIS-IV Digit Span (DS). Score was calculating by subtracting the DS scaled score at baseline from the DS scaled score at 2-Month Follow Up. We hypothesized that the active tDCS group will have a larger improvement in cognitive performance than the sham group. A higher number indicates a higher impact of cognitive training and, thus, a better outcome. The DS Scaled Score has a range between 1 (min.) and 10 (max). Therefore, the computed difference between two DS Scaled Scores has a range of -9 (min.) to 9 (max.)	2 months post-intervention
(A4) Number of Participants Who Relapsed After Intervention.	Relapse was defined as any illiciit drug use (whether reported by the patient or reported as a positive drug screen in study or medical records) that occurred at some point between study intervention and the final follow-up visit (2 months post-intervention). Relapse was measured with the Timeline Follow Back questionnaire, saliva drug screen at the study visit, and chart review of urine drug screens. Relapse was coded 0 (did not relapse during the study) or 1 (relapsed during the study). We hypothesized that the active tDCS group will have a lower relapse rate than the sham group. A higher number indicates a higher count of participants with a relapse.	2 months post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Scaled Score on Digit Symbol Task.	"Durability of cognitive training was defined as improvement on the WAIS-IV Digit Scale Symbol/Coding (CD) test. The improvement period was measured between baseline and the study completion (2 months post-intervention). The score was calculated by subtracting the CD scaled score at baseline from the CD Scaled Score at 2-months post-intervention. A higher number indicates a higher impact on cognitive abilities, and a better outcome. The CD Scaled Score has a range between 1 (min.) and 10 (max). Therefore, the computed difference between two CD Scaled Scores has a range of -9 (min.) to 9 (max.)"	2-months post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Minnesota
• Collaborators: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jazmin Camchong, PhD, University of Minnesota; Principal Investigator: Kelvin Lim, MD, University of Minnesota

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 11, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 22, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 22, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): August 3, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 10, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 20, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Narcotic-Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Opioid-Related Disorders; Heroin Dependence; Morphine Dependence
• Other Study ID Numbers: PSYCH-2018-26724; 1UG3DA048508-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes