The main objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the ventral anterior internal capsule (VC) as a novel treatment in severe alcohol addiction. The included patients have been treated so far with drugs that inhibits alcohol, or psychological behavior training. Our hypothesis is that bilateral NAc-VC DBS will significantly reduce the craving for alcohol and thus enable the patients to decrease their alcohol intake substantially.
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is considered associating with addiction. The ventral anterior internal capsule(VC) is proved a effective target to obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD). Like other addiction behaviors most alcohol addicts contain obsessive compulsive symptom. We explored an operation method, that is, in the Leksell stereotactic positioning system take VC as the point of entry, take NAc as the point of target, then make sure that the distance between entry and target points are included in the four contacts of electrode of DBS. When stimulator is ON the investigators can adjust parameters so that the coverage of electrode contains both Vc and NAc. The investigators suppose that bilateral NAc-VC DBS will significantly reduce the craving for alcohol and thus enable the patients to decrease their alcohol intake substantially.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
20
Stimulator setting is ON
Stimulator setting is OFF
Department of neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
RECRUITINGReduction of Alcohol
Reduction of the dosage of alcohol(all kinds of liquor were converted into pure alcohol) comparing baseline and the particular ward rounds during and at the end of the crossover-design.
Time frame: 7 months
Craving
10-point visual analog scale (VAS) of craving
Time frame: 7 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.