Brain Mechanism and Intervention of Executive-control Dysfunction Among Substance Dependents

March 28, 2022 updated by: Shanghai Mental Health Center

Brain Mechanism and Intervention of Executive-control Dysfunction Caused by Impaired Prefrontal-ventral Striatum Synchronization Among Substance Dependents

The investigators assume that tACS could improve amphetamine and alcohol dependent patients' executive-control function by adjusting the synchronization patterns and enhancing the functional connectivity of the prefrontal-ventral striatum pathway. A random controlled trial will be used to test the effect of θ-tACS treatment. Three months follow-up assessment will be conducted to test the changing of executive-control function and its mechanism.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Substance abuse has become a major social and public health problem in China, especially for amphetamine abuse and alcohol abuse. Executive-control dysfunction is the main symptom for substance dependents. Previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and prefrontal-ventral striatum pathway. Studies have shown that abnormal phase synchronization and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) induced the impairment of cognitive, and tACS could improve executive-control function by adjusting the abnormal synchronization. But it has not been verified among MA or alcohol patients. The investigators assume that tACS could improve MA and alcohol dependent patients' executive-control function by adjusting the synchronization patterns and enhancing the functional connectivity of the prefrontal-ventral striatum pathway. A random controlled trial will be used to test the effect of θ-tACS treatment. Three months follow-up assessment will be conducted to test the changing of executive-control function and its mechanism. This study will provide a practical and theoretical basis for developing a novel treatment for substance dependents.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

210

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • China
    • Shanghai
      • Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200000
        • Shanghai Mental Health Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18-60, male or female, with 9 or more years of education, and able to complete questionnaire evaluation and behavioral tests
  • Meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for amphetamine-type substance addiction or alcohol addiction
  • Have used amphetamine or alcohol for at least one year (at least once a week)
  • Normal vision and hearing, or within the normal range after correction
  • Agree to cooperate in the follow-up evaluation
  • No metal implantation in the head, no history of nerve problems or head injury, and no skin sensitivity

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have severe cognitive impairment, such as a history of head trauma, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, etc.
  • Have used drugs promoting cognitive function in the last 6 months
  • Have impaired intelligence (IQ<70)
  • Abuse or dependence of other psychoactive substances (except nicotine) in the last 5 years

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
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Healthy control group
No intervention is conducted in the healthy control group.
Experimental: Intervention group of amphetamine addiction
A 20-minute tACS intervention of real-stimulus is conducted twice a day for a total of 10 days in the intervention group of amphetamine addiction.
Device: Transcranial alternating current stimulation-true stimulus
The adhesive electrodes were placed at F3 and F4 positions of the 64-bit EEG caps of the 10-20 system, corresponding to bilateral prefrontal lobes respectively. Before the intervention, the individual alpha frequency (IAF) of the subjects was measured according to the average peak value of α waves at dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the closed state. Then an alternating current at θ frequency (θ = IAF - 5Hz) was applied to each subject based on its IAF value. The amplitude of stimulation was increased with a step of 20μA starting from 0. When the subjects had a slight prickling sensation or optical illusion, the stimulation current was decreased with a step of 20μA until the sensation disappeared. The current value at this time was used as the stimulation current of the subjects.
Sham Comparator: Control group of amphetamine addiction
A 20-minute tACS intervention of sham-stimulus is conducted twice a day for a total of 10 days in the control group of amphetamine addiction.
Device: Transcranial alternating current stimulation-sham stimulus
The adhesive electrodes were placed at F3 and F4 positions of the 64-bit EEG caps of the 10-20 system, corresponding to bilateral prefrontal lobes respectively. The actual stimulation waveform was just implemented in the first 60 s (or more longer) and then faded out.
Experimental: Intervention group of alcohol addiction
A 20-minute tACS intervention of real-stimulus is conducted twice a day for a total of 10 days in the intervention group of alcohol addiction.
Device: Transcranial alternating current stimulation-true stimulus
The adhesive electrodes were placed at F3 and F4 positions of the 64-bit EEG caps of the 10-20 system, corresponding to bilateral prefrontal lobes respectively. Before the intervention, the individual alpha frequency (IAF) of the subjects was measured according to the average peak value of α waves at dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the closed state. Then an alternating current at θ frequency (θ = IAF - 5Hz) was applied to each subject based on its IAF value. The amplitude of stimulation was increased with a step of 20μA starting from 0. When the subjects had a slight prickling sensation or optical illusion, the stimulation current was decreased with a step of 20μA until the sensation disappeared. The current value at this time was used as the stimulation current of the subjects.
Sham Comparator: Control group of alcohol addiction
A 20-minute tACS intervention of sham-stimulus is conducted twice a day for a total of 10 days in the control group of alcohol addiction.
Device: Transcranial alternating current stimulation-sham stimulus
The adhesive electrodes were placed at F3 and F4 positions of the 64-bit EEG caps of the 10-20 system, corresponding to bilateral prefrontal lobes respectively. The actual stimulation waveform was just implemented in the first 60 s (or more longer) and then faded out.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The change of inhibitory control ability
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of inhibitory control ability will be reflected by participants' performance in the Go/No Go task.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of theta(θ) phase synchronicity
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of θ phase synchronicity in the prefrontal - ventral striatum pathway in amphetamine addicts and alcohol addicts will be measured by EEG.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of theta-gamma phase amplitude coupling(θ-γ PAC)
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of θ-γ PAC in the prefrontal - ventral striatum pathway in amphetamine addicts and alcohol addicts will be measured by EEG.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The change of working memory
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of working memory will be measured by the two-back task.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
DA metabolic rate
Time Frame: baseline
DA metabolism was measured by Positron Emission Computed Tomography
baseline
The change of decision-making ability
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of decision-making ability will be measured by the Balloon Analog Risk Task.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The The change of depression
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
Depression will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9). The total score of PHQ-9 ranged from 0 to 27, in which higher scores mean a higher level of depression.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
The change of anxiety
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention
Anxiety will be measured by the questionnaire of Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD-7). The total score of GAD-7 ranged from 0 to 21, in which higher scores mean a higher level of anxiety.
baseline, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention, three months after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

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 (Anticipated)

June 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

June 1, 2025

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 5, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 28, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 28, 2022

Last Verified

January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • JDu-010

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.

Clinical Trials on Substance Dependence

Clinical Trials on Transcranial alternating current stimulation-true stimulus

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Costa Rica

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe