An interventional study of Active rTMS and Sham rTMS in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Heroin Dependence, sponsored by National Cheng-Kung University Hospital. Status unknown at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-09-16.
Sponsored by National Cheng-Kung University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is prevalent and causes substantial health and social burdens. Although evidence have showed the effectiveness of opioid agonist maintenance therapy in OUD, high drop-out rate and the requirement of continuing use of opioid agonists are the major problems. Therefore, to develop novel treatment for OUD is important.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive method of brain stimulation used to treat a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent studies showed that there may be potential therapeutic effects in rTMS for addictive disorder, including reducing craving and substance use severity. The underlying mechanisms of rTMS in treating addictions may involve increased dopamine function in corticomesolimbic brain circuits and modulation of neural activity in brain circuits that relevant to addiction. However, the treatment results of rTMS in OUD were lacked, and the analysis in functional brain imaging study, neuropsychological tests and other potential biomarkers under rTMS treatment were limited, too.
Thus, the investigators will conduct the add-on double-blinded, sham-controlled study rTMS treatment in 40-60 patients with OUD under methadone maintenance therapy. Patients will be allocated to active and sham rTMS in a 1 : 1 ratio, and participants will receive rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (15 Hz frequency, 4 seconds per train, inter-train interval of 26 seconds, 40 trains per session, total 11 sessions in 4 weeks). The treatment response, urine drug tests, craving scales and side effects to evaluate the therapeutic effects of rTMS will be examined. Neuropsychological assessments, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and tests for potential biomarkers of immune parameters will also be measured during 12-weeks follow up. The study results will provide the important data in whether rTMS add-on methadone maintenance therapy is able to 1) reduce heroin use; 2) reduce craving for heroin; 3) be an effective treatment for OUD, and 4) be associated with improvement in fMRI, biological markers and psychological tests.
Exclusion Criteria:
The rTMS parameters were as follows: 15Hz frequency, pulse intensity 100% of the rMT, 60 pulses per train, inter train pause of 26 sec, 40 stimulation trains, and 2400 total pulses for a total duration of 20 min. The patients received one rTMS session per day during the first five days of treatment, and then twice a week for the following three weeks, for a total of 11 rTMS sessions.
Device: Active rTMS
The rTMS parameters were as follows: 15Hz frequency, pulse intensity 100% of the rMT, 60 pulses per train, inter train pause of 26 sec, 40 stimulation trains, and 2400 total pulses for a total duration of 20 min, with a figure-of-eight sham coil. The patients received one rTMS session per day during the first five days of treatment, and then twice a week for the following three weeks, for a total of 11 rTMS sessions.
Device: Sham rTMS
The stimulator device was a Magstim super rapid magnetic stimulator (Magstim Company, Ltd., Wales, United Kingdom) with 4 booster modules equipped with a 70-mm air-cooled figure-eight-shaped coil. We performed rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).The TMS parameters were as follows: 15Hz frequency, pulse intensity 100% of the rMT, 60 pulses per train, inter train pause of 26 sec, 40 stimulation trains, and 2400 total pulses for a total duration of 20 min. The patients received one rTMS session per day during the first five days of treatment, and then twice a week for the following three weeks, for a total of 11 rTMS sessions. The sham group was administered rTMS with the same parameters, but using a figure-of-eight sham coil.
The stimulator device was a Magstim super rapid magnetic stimulator (Magstim Company, Ltd., Wales, United Kingdom) with 4 booster modules equipped with a 70-mm air-cooled figure-eight-shaped coil. We performed rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).The TMS parameters were as follows: 15Hz frequency, pulse intensity 100% of the rMT, 60 pulses per train, inter train pause of 26 sec, 40 stimulation trains, and 2400 total pulses for a total duration of 20 min. The patients received one rTMS session per day during the first five days of treatment, and then twice a week for the following three weeks, for a total of 11 rTMS sessions. The sham group was administered rTMS with the same parameters, but using a figure-of-eight sham coil.
The treatment retention rate
To compare the treatment retention rate between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
The treatment attendance rate
To compare the treatment attendance rate between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Urinary assessment
Urinary morphine examinations will be measured at every visit. The rate of positive urinary morphine tests will be compared between active and sham rTMS groups in 12 weeks of follow up.
Time frame: 12 weeks
fMRI
The fMRI scan will be done at initial screen and at week 5 (after rTMS treatment) with resting-state fMRI and task activation fMRI with an IGT.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Immunological markers
Twenty milliliters of blood will be drawn from each participant. Plasma will be isolated from the whole blood after it has been centrifuged at 3000 g for 15 min at 4℃, and the will be immediately stored at -80℃. Cytokine and BDNF levels will be quantified using an antibody pair assay system (Flexia; BioSource Intl., Camarillo, CA). Sample processing and data analysis will be done according to the manufacturer's instructions. The immunological parameters that we intend to analyze will include TNF-α, CRP, TGF-β1, IL-8, Il-10 and BDNF. The immunological markers will be measured from baseline to endpoint (week 12) in each patient group.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Wechsler Memory Scale - third edition(WMS-III)
WMS-III will be tested at initial screen and at the end of study (week 12) and compared between the active and sham rTMS groups.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST)
WCST will be tested at initial screen and at the end of study (week 12) and compared between the active and sham rTMS groups.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Continuous performance tests(CPT)
CPT will be tested at initial screen and at the end of study (week 12) and compared between the active and sham rTMS groups.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Side effect checklist
To compare the side effect profiles using side effect checklist between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Assessment of craving
To compare the severity of craving between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)
To compare the mood symptoms between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
World Health Organization's Quality of Life Assessment-Brief of Taiwan (WHOQOL-BREF TW)
To compare the life quality (using WHOQOL-BREF TW) between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Family APGAR index
To compare the level of family support (using family APGAR index) between the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI)
To compare the OTI tween the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Clinical Global Impressions (CGI)
To compare the CGI tween the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale(BIS)
To compare the BIS tween the active and sham rTMS groups from baseline to endpoint (12 weeks).
Time frame: 12 weeks
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National Cheng-Kung University Hospital