Pilot Study Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Cannabis Craving

Withdrawn before enrolling · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Cannabis Use

In brief

Background: * Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a commonly abused drug. There is no approved medication to treat cannabis addiction. The desire to use cannabis often increases when seeing others use it or seeing pictures of it. Researchers are interested in determining which parts of the brain are active when looking at pictures associated with cannabis. * Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain. These pulses can change activity in parts of the brain. Researchers are interested in determining whether rTMS can decrease activity in the parts of the brain that respond to cannabis, and thereby lessen cravings for cannabis. Objectives: \- To determine whether transcranial magnetic stimulation can lower craving for cannabis when people who use cannabis are shown images that increase craving. Eligibility: \- Individuals 18 years of age and older who are physically healthy and currently use cannabis (at least 3 times weekly for the past 2 years). Design: * The study will involve eight visits over 3 weeks, with each visit lasting 1 to 2 hours. * Participants will have an initial assessment about cannabis use and provide blood and urine samples before beginning the study. * Participants will have three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. The first MRI scan will look at the structure of the brain at rest. During the other two scans, participants will look at images related to and not related to cannabis use. * The rTMS sessions (with either actual TMS or inactive \[sham\] TMS) will be held daily for 5 consecutive days. During these testing visits, researchers will ask questions related to drug use and craving, and collect urine and breath samples for further study. * Participants will have two follow-up visits, 1 week and 2 weeks after the rTMS sessions, to evaluate memory and mood, and one final MRI brain scan at the end of the study.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT01031290
Run by: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
People needed: 0
Starts: 2009-08-19
Expected to finish: 2012-02-27
Last updated by the study team: 2017-07-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

i) Personal or first-degree family history of any clinically defined neurological disorder, including organic brain disease, epilepsy, stroke, brain lesions, multiple sclerosis, previous neurosurgery, or personal history of head trauma that resulted in loss of consciousness.
ii) Cardiac pacemakers, neural stimulators, implantable defibrillator, implanted medication pumps, intracardiac lines, or acute, unstable cardiac disease, with intracranial implants (e.g. aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head that cannot be safely removed.
iii) Metal shrapnel or bullet in the head or body including metal shavings.
iv) Current use of any investigational drug or of any medications with anti or pro-convulsive action
v) Increased intracranial pressure (lowers seizure threshold)
vi) Lifetime history of major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania
vii) History of myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke or transient ischemic attack, or any heart condition currently under medical care.
viii) Pregnant or nursing women or women with reproductive potential not using an acceptable form of contraception.
ix) Any history of seizure
x) Current dependence (DSM-IV criteria) on substances other than cannabis or nicotine.
xi) Claustrophobia making them unable to tolerate lying in the MRI scanner

Where it is running

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) 55 Wade Avenue — Catonsville, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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