CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT04997330STIM-ALCUpdated Aug 30, 2021

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

An interventional study of Active rTMS and Sham rTMS in Alcohol Withdrawal, sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. Status unknown at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-08-30.

Sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Mar 2021), so the status shown — last known as Not yet recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
95
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

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.

Read the 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.

02

Conditions studied

  • Alcohol Withdrawal

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Keywords

  • alcool
  • rTMS
  • executive
  • dysfunction
  • addiction
03

In context

Alcoholism

1,606 studies on the registry are indexed under Alcoholism; 329 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 95 is close to the median of 87 across 1,371 interventional studies indexed under Alcoholism.

Browse Alcoholism studies →

Lead sponsor

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris is the lead sponsor of 3,505 studies on the registry; 1,006 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

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

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.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
95 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Active rTMS

    Bilateral high frequency (20Hz) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over DLPFC

    Device: Active rTMS

  • Placebo comparator
    Sham rTMS

    Sham bilateral high frequency (20Hz) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over DLPFC

    Device: Sham rTMS

Interventions

  • DeviceActive 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.

    Also known as: Experimental group

  • DeviceSham 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.

    Also known as: Control group

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

Secondary outcomes

  1. 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.

    Time frame: 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  2. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  3. 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.

    Time frame: 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  4. 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.

    Time frame: 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  5. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  6. 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.

    Time frame: 3 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  7. 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.

    Time frame: 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  8. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  9. 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.

    Time frame: 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  10. 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.

    Time frame: At the last day of rTMS sessions

  11. 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.

    Time frame: at 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  12. 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.

    Time frame: at 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  13. 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.

    Time frame: From baseline to the last rTMS session after the end of rTMS sessions

  14. 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.

    Time frame: At 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  15. 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.

    Time frame: At 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  16. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  17. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  18. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  19. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  20. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  21. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  22. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  23. 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.

    Time frame: 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  24. 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.

    Time frame: At 1 month after the end of rTMS sessions

  25. 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.

    Time frame: At 3 months after the end of rTMS sessions

  26. % 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%).

    Time frame: At the end of rTMS treatment

  27. Percentage of rTMS sessions performed.

    Treatment compliance will be assessed by the percentage of rTMS sessions performed.

    Time frame: At the end of rTMS treatment

  28. 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.

    Time frame: 3 months at the end of rTMS treatment

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière
    Paris, 75013, France
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — 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.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 30, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04997330
Lead sponsor
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 9, 2021
Start date
Sep 2021 (estimated)
Primary completion
May 2023 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 2023 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 30, 2021

Study contacts

Fanny LEVY, Docteur
Contact
fanny.levy@aphp.fr
01.42.16.28.94
Romain ICICK, Docteur
Contact
romain.icick@aphp.fr
01 40 05 48 69
Fanny LEVY, Docteur
principal investigator · Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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