The investigators hypothesize that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the right side of the head will make craving towards alcohol less severe in recently detoxified alcohol addicted patients. Although there are successful treatment option to detoxify patients form their alcohol use, many patients tend to relapse. This relapse is mainly caused by a high level of (uncontrollable) craving towards alcohol. This aspect of addiction is with the existing options hard to treat, there is a great need of new successful treatment modalities. rTMS is a FDA approved treatment method for depression. Recently some small scale studies have shown promising results on rTMS in the treatment of addiction. In this study the investigators focus on alcohol addiction since it is the addiction with the highest morbidity and mortality in the Netherlands.
In this study the investigators focus on three levels of interest: the biological level, the functional level and the clinical level. The investigators will measure the effect of rTMS directly on brain activity through EEG recording. The investigators investigate its effects on cognitive performance through the use of neuropsychological computer tasks. The investigators will address clinical behavior (craving and alcohol use) with questionnaires.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
30
rTMS on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. TMS procedure: The resting motor threshold (RMT) will be defined in each subject as the minimal stimulation intensity evoking an MEP of ≥ 0.05 mV in 50% of the trials in the muscle of the right thumb (M. abductor pollicis brevis). TMS will be conducted in the form of 'conventional rTMS', whereby 30 trains of 10 Hz pulses with a duration of 5 seconds and an inter-train interval of 25 seconds are applied to the righ dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (50 pulses per train, 6000 pulses per session). Used equipment: Magstim Rapid 2 device.
TMS procedure: The resting motor threshold (RMT) will be defined in each subject as the minimal stimulation intensity evoking an MEP of ≥ 0.05 mV in 50% of the trials in the muscle of the right thumb (M. abductor pollicis brevis). Like in verum TMS coil will be placed on the skull, but no magnetic field will be pulsed. Used equipment: Magstim Rapid 2 device.
IrisZorg
Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the LPP at 8 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Late Positive Potentials (LPP) (P300 and Slow Potential (SP)) as measured with EEG at 8 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 8 weeks after start of treatment.
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the LPP at 2 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Late Positive Potentials (LPP) (P300 and Slow Potential (SP)) as measured with EEG at 2 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 2 weeks after start of treatment
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the LPP at 4 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Late Positive Potentials (LPP) (P300 and Slow Potential (SP)) as measured with EEG at 4 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 4 weeks after start of treatment
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the LPP at 12 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Late Positive Potentials (LPP) (P300 and Slow Potential (SP)) as measured with EEG at 12 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 12 weeks after start of treatment
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the ERN at 2 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Error Related Negativity (ERN) as measured with EEG at 2 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 2 weeks after start of treatment
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the ERN at 4 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Error Related Negativity (ERN) as measured with EEG at 4 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 4 weeks after start of treatment
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the ERN at 8 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Error Related Negativity (ERN) as measured with EEG at 8 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 8 weeks after start of treatment
The change from baseline on the amplitude of the ERN at 12 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in amplitude of the Error Related Negativity (ERN) as measured with EEG at 12 weeks after start of treatment (baseline measurement).
Time frame: 12 weeks after start of treatment
Change from baseline on SST at 2 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 2 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Stop-Signal Task (SST)per computer.
Time frame: at 2 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on SST at 4 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 4 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Stop-Signal Task (SST)per computer.
Time frame: at 4 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on SST at 8 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 12 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Stop-Signal Task (SST) per computer.
Time frame: at 8 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on SST at 12 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 12 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Stop-Signal Task (SST) per computer.
Time frame: at 12 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on CCT at 2 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 2 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Columbia Card Task (CCT) per computer.
Time frame: at 2 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on CCT at 4 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 4 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Columbia Card Task (CCT) per computer.
Time frame: at 4 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on CCT at 8 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 8 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Columbia Card Task (CCT) per computer.
Time frame: at 8 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on CCT at 12 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 12 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Columbia Card Task (CCT) per computer.
Time frame: at 12 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on AAAT at 2 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 2 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Alcohol Approach Avoidance Task (AAAT) per computer.
Time frame: at 2 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on AAAT at 4 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 4 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Alcohol Approach Avoidance Task (AAAT) per computer.
Time frame: at 4 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on AAAT at 8 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 8 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Alcohol Approach Avoidance Task (AAAT) per computer.
Time frame: at 8 weeks after start treatement
Change from baseline on AAAT at 12 weeks
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in cognitive performance at 12 weeks follow-up, by conducting a Alcohol Approach Avoidance Task (AAAT) per computer.
Time frame: at 12 weeks after start treatement
Change form baseline on craving at 2 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the change of 20 sessions of rTMS in perceived patient reported craving at 2 weeks after start treatment as measured with the Obsessive Compulsing Drinking Scale (OCDS), Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) and a craving Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame: at 2 weeks after start treatment
Change form baseline on craving at 4 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the change of 20 sessions of rTMS in perceived patient reported craving at 4 weeks after start treatment as measured with the Obsessive Compulsing Drinking Scale (OCDS), Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) and a craving Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame: at 4 weeks after start treatment
Change form baseline on craving at 8 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the change of 20 sessions of rTMS in perceived patient reported craving at 8 weeks after start treatment as measured with the Obsessive Compulsing Drinking Scale (OCDS), Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) and a craving Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame: at 8 weeks after start treatment
Change form baseline on craving at 12 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the change of 20 sessions of rTMS in perceived patient reported craving at 12 weeks after start treatment as measured with the Obsessive Compulsing Drinking Scale (OCDS), Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) and a craving Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame: at 12 weeks after start treatment
Change form baseline on alcohol use at 2 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in alcohol use 2 weeks from baseline by filling in a dairy on treatment days 5 times a week.
Time frame: at 2 weeks after start treatment
Change form baseline on alcohol use at 4 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in alcohol use 4 weeks from baseline by filling in a dairy on treatment days 5 times a week.
Time frame: at 4 weeks after start treatment
Change form baseline on alcohol use at 12 weeks after start treatment
To investigate the effect of 20 sessions of rTMS on the change in alcohol use 12 weeks from baseline by using the Alcohol Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) method.
Time frame: at 8 weeks after start treatment
Ant Schellekens, MD, PhD
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