High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Assists In Smoking Cessation

Sheba Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Heavy Smoking

Treatments: Device: Magnetic stimulation using a special sham coil; Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation 10Hz

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00284219

SHEBA-04-3401-RA-CTIL

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Smoking over 20 Cig a day -

Exclusion Criteria:epilepsy, psychiatry history

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Real high frequency rTMS

Active Comparator group

Description:

The patients will undergo a series of treatments of high frequency rTMS

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation 10Hz

Sham high frequency rTMS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The patients will receive a series of sham treatments.

Treatment:

Device: Magnetic stimulation using a special sham coil