Evaluation of Bilateral HF-rTMS on Abstinence in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients With Executive Dysfunction (STIM-ALC)

Evaluation of Bilateral HF-rTMS Over DLPFC in add-on to Usual Treatment on Abstinence in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients With Executive Dysfunction After Withdrawal

High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) could correct defective executive functions over the hyperactive reward circuit through the meso-fronto-limbic connections. The restored cortical inhibitory control over compulsive alcohol use, could improve abstinence after withdrawal. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of HF-rTMS over DLPFC in AUD patients with executive dysfunction after withdrawal.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Alcohol Withdrawal
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Active rTMS; Device: Sham rTMS

Detailed Description

PARTICIPANTS:

Participants with AUD (moderate to mild according to Alcohol Dependance Scale) with executive dysfunctions will be randomized.

DESIGN:

This study is a multicenter pilot double blind randomized controlled trial. After at least seven days of alcohol residential detoxification, executive dysfunctions's participants will be tested. 64 of them with executive dysfunctions will be randomized either in the active rTMS group or in the sham rTMS group. TMS will be performed during hospitalisation over 10 days. rTMS are proposed as an add on to the usual treatment.

INTERVENTION:

20 rTMS (twice a day) will be performed 10 consecutive working days. The target of the rTMS will be the DLPFC (left side in the morning, right side in the afternoon). During each rTMS sessions (active and sham), alcohol related pictures from the Geneva Appetitive alcohol Pictures will be presented.In the active arm, rTMS will be performed with high frequency (20hz, 1500 pulses per session, 110% of motor threshold).In the control group, sham rTMS will be performed.

Participants will be follow up to three months after the end of rTMS treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 95
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Fanny LEVY, Docteur; Phone Number: 01.42.16.28.94; Email: fanny.levy@aphp.fr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Romain ICICK, Docteur; Phone Number: 01 40 05 48 69; Email: romain.icick@aphp.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Paris, France, 75013
    • Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière
    • Contact: Anne Radenne; Phone Number: 01 42 16 16 99; Email: anne.radenne@aphp.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18-75 years
• Alcohol use disorder according to DSM 5, moderate to mild according to ADS
• Residential stay for alcohol detoxofication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive deficits defined by MoCA <25 (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) performed at least 7days after alcohol detoxification and after at least 12 hours after benzodiazepine cessation
• History of cerebral stroke
• DSM-5 substance use disorders other than nicotine and alcohol

• Contraindication for rTMS :

  • Pregnancy
  • History of epilepsy or seizure
  • Cochlear implants
  • Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines, or metal in the body
• Clinical history of complicated withdrawal symptoms
• History of severe head trauma followed by loss of consciousness
• Actual major depressive episode, schizophrenia according to the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview)
• Breastfeeding women
• Actual or history of organic failure including cirrhosis
• Absence of health insurance; or patient with AME
• Legal protection (curatorship or tutorship)
• Deprive of freedom or security measure
• No adequate mastering of the French language or no ability to consent
• Major socio-economic problem: homelessness
• No written informed consent
• Participation in another interventional study

Secondary inclusion criteria (before randomization):

- Abnormal executive function defined as at least 3 impaired measurements among 19 measurements of 7 tests (Stroop test, Wisconsin test; Trail making test, verbal fluency, 6 elements, Brixton test, Dual task Baddeley test) from the Greffex battery. Each measure will be considered as impaired if it is below 1.65 SD. The procedure and the measurement are standardized. The neuropsychological evaluation will be performed at least seven days after alcohol detoxification and after at least 12 hours after benzodiazepine cessation.

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: Active rTMS; Bilateral high frequency (20Hz) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over DLPFC	Device: Active rTMS; Bilateral high frequency (20Hz) rTMS will be delivered (over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), at two daily sessions (left side on the morning and right side on the afternoon), 10 consecutive days on working day, 1500 pulses/session, 110% of motor threshold determined, 30 trains, 50 pulses per train and 15s inter train. A session will typically last around 10 minutes. Alcohol cues consisted of a selection of 60 alcohol-related pictures (beverage, drinking-related behaviors, alcohol-related cues) from the Geneva Appetitive alcohol Pictures will be presented during each rTMS session.; Other Names: Experimental group
Placebo Comparator: Sham rTMS; Sham bilateral high frequency (20Hz) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over DLPFC	Device: Sham rTMS; Sham rTMS will be delivered (over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) , at two daily sessions (left side on the morning and right side on the afternoon), 10 consecutive working days. A session will typically last around 10 minutes. Alcohol cues consisted of a selection of 60 alcohol-related pictures (beverage, drinking-related behaviors, alcohol-related cues) from the Geneva Appetitive alcohol Pictures will be presented during each rTMS session.; Other Names: Control group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of participants with continuous complete alcohol abstinence	Percentage of patients with continuous complete abstinence up to one month after the end of the rTMS treatment. The abstinence will be assessed using the Alcohol-Time Line Follow Back tool (TLFB). The Alcohol TLFB is a descriptive questionnaire, using a calendar, participants will retrospectively record at M1 the number of days they drank over the 30 days following the end of the rTMS treatment. Continuous complete abstinence will be defined as no day with alcohol consumption over the 30 days.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of participants with alcohol continuous complete abstinence	Percentage of patients with continuous complete abstinence up to 3 months after the end of the rTMS treatment. The abstinence will be assessed using the Alcohol-TLFB at M1, M2, M3. Continuous complete abstinence will be defined as no day with alcohol consumption over the 90 days.	3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Number of cumulative abstinence days	Alcohol consumption measured by the number of cumulative abstinence days up to 1 month after the end of the rTMS treatment. The number of cumulative abstinence days will be assessed using (TLFB) at M1 and will be calculated by summing the total number of days when no alcohol was consumed over the 30 days.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Number of cumulative abstinence days	Alcohol consumption measured by the number of cumulative abstinence days up to 3 months after the end of the rTMS treatment. The number of cumulative abstinence days will be assessed using (TLFB) at M1, M2, M3 and will be calculated by summing the total number of days when no alcohol was consumed over the 90 days.	3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Time until the first heavy drinking days (HDD)	Time until the first heavy drinking days (HDD) up to 3 months. The time, in days, until the first HDD will be assessed using (TLFB) at M1, M2, M3. HDD will be defined as more than 50 (men) or 40 (women) g/day.	3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Number of heavy drinking days (HDD)	Number of heavy drinking days (HDD) up to 1 month. Number of heavy drinking days HDD will be assessed using (TLFB) at M1 and will be calculated by summing the total number of days with HDD over the 30 days. HDD will be defined as more than 50 (men) or 40 (women) g/day.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Number of heavy drinking days (HDD)	Number of heavy drinking days (HDD) up to 3 months. Number of heavy drinking days HDD will be assessed using (TLFB) at M1, M2, M3 and will be calculated by summing the total number of days with HDD over the 90 days.. HDD will be defined as more than 50 (men) or 40 (women) g/day.	3 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Time to relapse	The time to relapse, in days, will be assessed using (TLFB) at M1, M2, M3. Relapse will be defined as a day with a consumption equal or higher than 50% of initial intake.	3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Alcohol dependence severity assessed by the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS)	Alcohol dependence severity will be evaluated with the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS). The ADS is a self-administrated 25-items questionnaire (requiring 5 minutes) assessing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, impaired control over drinking, awareness of compulsive drink, increased tolerance and salience of drink-seeking behavior. ADS is initially used to assess a past 12-month period, its instructions can be modified for different time-frame. The ADS will be assessed on previous 4 weeks. This scale is scored out of 47, higher scores are considered worse.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Alcohol dependence severity assessed by the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS)	Alcohol dependence severity will be evaluated with the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS). The ADS is a self-administrated 25-items questionnaire (requiring 5 minutes) assessing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, impaired control over drinking, awareness of compulsive drink, increased tolerance and salience of drink-seeking behavior. ADS is initially used to assess a past 12-month period, its instructions can be modified for different time-frame. The ADS will be assessed on previous 4 weeks. This scale is scored out of 47, higher scores are considered worse.	3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Alcohol cue induced craving using the Cue induced Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS)	Evaluated by Cue induced Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). Cue induced OCDS will be measured after alcohol cues viewing. French version of OCDS is a self-administrated 14-items instrument assessing obsessive and compulsive characteristics of drinking-related thoughts, urge to drink or craving, and ability to resist those thoughts and urges. This scale is scored out of 56, higher scores are considered worse. Alcohol cues consisted of a selection of 60 alcohol-related pictures (beverage, drinking-related behaviors, alcohol-related cues) from the Geneva Appetitive alcohol Pictures . The same diaporama will be used for all visits in all centers.	At the last day of rTMS sessions
Alcohol cue induced craving using the Cue induced Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS)	Evaluated by Cue induced Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). Cue induced OCDS will be measured after alcohol cues viewing. French version of OCDS is a self-administrated 14-items instrument assessing obsessive and compulsive characteristics of drinking-related thoughts, urge to drink or craving, and ability to resist those thoughts and urges. This scale is scored out of 56, higher scores are considered worse. Alcohol cues consisted of a selection of 60 alcohol-related pictures (beverage, drinking-related behaviors, alcohol-related cues) from the Geneva Appetitive alcohol Pictures . The same diaporama will be used for all visits in all centers.	at 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Alcohol cue induced craving using the Cue induced Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS)	Evaluated by Cue induced Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). Cue induced OCDS will be measured after alcohol cues viewing. French version of OCDS is a self-administrated 14-items instrument assessing obsessive and compulsive characteristics of drinking-related thoughts, urge to drink or craving, and ability to resist those thoughts and urges. This scale is scored out of 56, higher scores are considered worse. Alcohol cues consisted of a selection of 60 alcohol-related pictures (beverage, drinking-related behaviors, alcohol-related cues) from the Geneva Appetitive alcohol Pictures . The same diaporama will be used for all visits in all centers.	at 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Change in Alcohol cue induced craving using a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS)	Change in cue induced craving Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) from baseline to the last rTMS session. Cue induced craving VAS will be measured after alcohol cues viewing at baseline and then daily on the morning just before rTMS sessions. The VAS is scored out of 10, higher scores are considered worse. Alcohol cues will be the same as for OCDS.	From baseline to the last rTMS session after the end of rTMS sessions
Alcohol cue induced craving using a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS)	The VAS is scored out of 10, higher scores are considered worse. Alcohol cues will be the same as for OCDS.	At 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Alcohol due induced craving using a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS)	The VAS is scored out of 10, higher scores are considered worse. Alcohol cues will be the same as for OCDS.	At 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
Number of impaired measures on the Grefex batery (executive functions)	Executive performance will be evaluated by the number of impaired measures on the Grefex battery : Stroop test, Wisconsin Test, Trail Making Test, verbal fluency, 6 elements, Brixton test and Dual task Baddeley test. Upon these 7 tests, 19 index will be measured (number of errors, time to make the task .). Each measure will be considered as impaired if it is below 1.65 SD. Number of impaired measures will be recorded for each patient.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Stroop test	Stroop test will be performed 1 month after the end of the rTMS sessions. The stroop test assess the cognitive inhibition. Time and number of non-corrected errors will be reported for each conditions 1) denomination 2) reading 3) interference.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Trail making test	Trail making test will be performed 1 month after the end of the rTMS sessions. The trail making test assess the mental flexibility. Time and number of errors will be reported for the trail making test A and the trail making test B. For this last condition, the number of perserverations will be also reported.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Verbal fluency	Verbal fluency will be performed 1 month after the ned of the rTMS sessions. The verbal fluency assess the lexical generation ability. The number of words produced will be reported.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Wisconsin Test	Wisconsin test will be performed 1 month after the ned of the rTMS sessions. The Wisconsin test assess the ability of deduction and rules maintenance. Number of correct categories, number of errors and number of perseverations will be reported.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Brixton test	Brixton test test will be performed 1 month after the ned of the rTMS sessions. The Brixton test assess the deduction abilify of working rules. Number of errors will be reported.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
6 elements	6 elements test will be performed 1 month after the ned of the rTMS sessions. The 6 elements test assess the planning and organization ability of the behavior. Ranking score will be reported.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Dual task Baddeley test	Dual task Baddeley testwill be performed 1 month after the end of the rTMS sessions. The Dual task Baddeley assess the working memory. Mu index will be reported.	1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Quality of life assessed by the Quality of life Scale (AQoLS)	Quality of life will be evaluated with Alcohol Quality of Life Scale (AQoLS) French version. This scale is a self-administrated 34-item questionnaire measuring health-related quality of life. The questionnaire explores 7 domains, i.e. activities, relationships, self-esteem, negative emotions, living conditions, control and sleep. The total score was obtained by summing all items, and the theoretical range was therefore 0-102; higher scores are considered better.	At 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions
Quality of life assessed by the Quality of life Scale (AQoLS)	Quality of life will be evaluated with Alcohol Quality of Life Scale (AQoLS) French version. This scale is a self-administrated 34-item questionnaire measuring health-related quality of life. The questionnaire explores 7 domains, i.e. activities, relationships, self-esteem, negative emotions, living conditions, control and sleep. The total score was obtained by summing all items, and the theoretical range was therefore 0-102; higher scores are considered better.	At 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions
% rTMS stimulation performed with optimal stimulation parameters	Achievement of optimal stimulation parameters will be assessed for each patient by the percentage of sessions performed with the theoretical threshold (110%).	At the end of rTMS treatment
Percentage of rTMS sessions performed.	Treatment compliance will be assessed by the percentage of rTMS sessions performed.	At the end of rTMS treatment
Percentage of participants experiencing sides effect	rTMS security will be assessed by the percentage of patients experiencing sides effects during the study and their nature: seizure induction, transient acute hypomania induction, syncope, transient headache, local pain, neck pain, toothache, paresthesia, transient hearing changes, other.	3 months at the end of rTMS treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fanny LEVY, Docteur, Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): September 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 31, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 31, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): August 9, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 30, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: addiction; rTMS; dysfunction; executive; alcool
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcoholism
• Other Study ID Numbers: APHP180582; 2020-A00548-31 (Other Identifier: N° IDRCB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

IPD Plan Description

Data are available upon reasonable request. The procedures carried out with the French data privacy authority (CNIL, Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés) do not provide for the transmission of the database, nor do the information and consent documents signed by the patients.

Consultation by the editorial board or interested researchers of individual participant data that underlie the results reported in the article after deidentification may nevertheless be considered, subject to prior determination of the terms and conditions of such consultation and in respect for compliance with the applicable regulations.

• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Beginning 3 months and ending 3 years following article publication. Requests out of these time frame can also be submitted to the sponsor
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No