NCT05720312

Investigating Two rTMS Strategies to Treat Cannabis Use Disorder

A Preliminary Investigation of Two Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Strategies to Treat Cannabis Use Disorder

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 22 (actual)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In this trial we will work with a group of participants who are having problems related to marijuana use (they have Cannabis Use Disorder) and who want to reduce the amount of marijuana they use or quit using marijuana completely. We are testing to see if a treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help them achieve that goal when combined with a brief three-session counseling therapy. Participants will receive rTMS to one of two different parts of the brain (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex--the DLPFC or the ventromedial prefrontal cortex--the vmPFC) to see if applying rTMS to one brain area is more helpful than the other brain area.

Detailed description

In this preliminary trial, we will test whether applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to one of two brain areas will help participants with Cannabis Use Disorder reduce the amount of cannabis they use or quit using cannabis completely. To do so, we will recruit participants from the community (or addictions medicine treatment centers) who meet the criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder (heavy use of cannabis causing social, occupational, or health problems) and want to either substantially reduce the amount of cannabis they use or quit using cannabis entirely. Participants will be randomized (in a 1:1 allocation) to receive rTMS to either the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). All participants will also receive evidence-based counseling to help them reduce the amount of cannabis they use. We will deliver study treatment with rTMS to participants over 18-study-visits occurring either two or three times each week and then will see whether the study treatment has helped by meeting with participants four times over six weeks. We will also see how the rTMS effected brain function by having participants undergo two scans using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Conditions

• Cannabis Use Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)	Patterned pulsed magnetic stimulation delivered using an electromagnet. We will use a MagVenture rTMS device and a Cool-B65 coil.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-07-01
• Primary completion: 2024-05-14
• Completion: 2024-07-01
• First posted: 2023-02-09
• Last updated: 2025-05-28
• Results posted: 2025-05-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study