NCT00284219

High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Assists In Smoking Cessation

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Cigarette smoking is a major public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality. Yet, smoking cessation therapies are often ineffective at helping smokers break their addiction. The mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system plays a crucial role in mediating the reinforcing effects of nicotine. Recently, acute high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of frontal brain regions has been shown to efficiently modulate the mesolimbic dopamine systems in both animals and humans. For this reason, we investigated whether 10 high-frequency (10Hz) rTMS treatments over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can help people to withdraw smoking in comparison to placebo rTMS. Smokers seeking to quit are recruited through newspaper advertisements. Participants were randomized to 10 days of either real or placebo high frequency rTMS.

Conditions

• Heavy Smoking

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation 10Hz	3\. rTMS subjects will receive 20 trains of rTMS at a rate of 10 Hz for 6 seconds (1200 pulses/session). Pulses will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, defined as 5 cm anterior and in a parasagital plane to the point of maximum stimulation of the abductor pollicis muscle. Pulse intensity will be set at 100% motor threshold.
DEVICE	Magnetic stimulation using a special sham coil	Sham stimulation will be given at the same location as the active, with special sham coil.

Timeline

• Start date: 2005-07-01
• First posted: 2006-01-31
• Last updated: 2011-06-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Israel