MPFC Theta Burst Stimulation as a Treatment Tool for Alcohol Use Disorder: Effects on Drinking and Incentive Salience
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- STATUS
- Recruiting
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- End date
- Dec 31, 2026
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- participants needed
- 86
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- sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
Summary
The purpose of this study is to develop transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), specifically TMS at a frequency known as theta burst stimulation (TBS), to see how it affects the brain and changes the brain's response to alcohol-related pictures. TMS and TBS are stimulation techniques that use magnetic pulses to temporarily excite specific brain areas in awake people (without the need for surgery, anesthetic, or other invasive procedures). TBS, which is a form of TMS, will be applied over the medial prefrontal cortex, (MPFC), which has been shown to be involved with drinking patterns and alcohol consumption. This study will test whether TBS can be used as an alternative tool to reduce the desire to use alcohol and reducing the brain's response to alcohol-related pictures.
Description
With advances in optogenetic stimulation techniques, preclinical studies have demonstrated that activity in frontal-striatal neural circuits has a causal influence on heavy drinking and alcohol reinstatement. Clinically, however, this research has not yet been translated into a neural circuit based therapeutic technique for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The long term goal of this multidisciplinary research study team is to determine the optimal parameters through which non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used to improve alcohol drinking outcomes (abstinence, heavy drinking days) among individuals seeking behavioral treatment for AUD. Building on a foundation of several target identification studies and a small double-blinded clinical trial in treatment-engaged AUD patients performed by the study team in the Charleston Alcohol Research Center, here the investigator proposes a double-blind placebo controlled, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of theta burst stimulation (TBS) to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as a tool to decrease drinking and brain reactivity to alcohol cues among treatment-seeking individuals with AUD. Individuals will be screened initially by the Clinical Intake and Assessment core, then given an opportunity to enroll in this study, provide informed consent, and be randomized to receive real or sham TBS to the mPFC 36 sessions (3x/day on each of 3 days/week over 4 weeks, i.e., 12 days). The scientific premise of this 5 year proposal is that, by modulating the neural circuits that regulate alcohol cue-reactivity it will be possible to increase alcohol abstinence rates and decrease heavy drinking days over a 4 month period. With the combined scientific expertise in brain stimulation, neuroimaging, alcohol use disorder research in the Charleston Alcohol Research Center, and clinical practice at MUSC, the study team is uniquely suited to develop this critical line of research. The outcomes of the proposed Aims will provide an evidence-based foundation for a multisite clinical trial and will hasten progress towards developing a new neural circuit based treatment for patients with AUD.
Details
| Condition | Alcohol Dependence, Substance Use, Ethanol, Alcohol use, Alcohol Use Disorders, Alcohol abuse, Alcohol Use Disorder |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Real TBS to the mPFC, Sham TBS to the mPFC |
| Clinical Study Identifier | NCT04998916 |
| Sponsor | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Last Modified on | 9 November 2021 |
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