The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) plus nicotine patch as a viable smoking cessation program for nicotine dependent smokers.
BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that involves the application of brief weak electric current to the scalp. tDCS may induce neuroplasticity, thereby engaging some of the same systems that figure prominently in the pathological neuroplasticity caused by addictive drugs. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether tDCS delivered along with nicotine patch reliably increases a) quit rates, b) duration of abstinence, and c) percentage of participants abstinent at follow-up. METHOD: Active (20min; 2mA) and sham (30sec; 2mA) stimulation will be applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in both cerebral hemispheres. HYPOTHESES: 1. Active tDCS (20-min; 2 mA) will increase abstinence in a standard smoking cessation protocol relative to a sham procedure. 2. The benefits of active left anodal stimulation (anode-left/cathode-right) to the DLPFC will be greater than of active tDCS in the reverse configuration (cathode-left/anode-right).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Brief (20-min) application of weak electric current (e.g., 2 mA) to the scalp.
Brief (30-sec) application of weak electric current (e.g., 2mA) to the scalp.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Nicotine Dependence Clinic)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Smoking Cessation
Measure whether active tDCS increases abstinence in a standard smoking cessation protocol relative to a sham tDCS procedure
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of the study, an expected average of 9 months.
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