Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulations in Patients With Amphetamine Use Disorders

Amphetamine Use Disorder (AUD) is a major public health issue in Taiwan, where it is the most commonly abused illegal drug. There are currently no effective approved medications to treat it, which makes finding new treatment options urgent. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation method, has shown promise in reducing cravings and drug use in people with addiction, but its effects on AUD are not well studied. To explore this, the investigators plan to conduct a double-blind, sham-controlled study with 20 people diagnosed with AUD. Half will receive real rTMS treatment, and half will receive a placebo-like sham treatment. The treatment targets a specific brain area (the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and will be given 10 times over two weeks. The investigators will assess the effectiveness of rTMS by tracking drug cravings, urine test results, and side effects with follow-up over 12 weeks. The investigators also include brain imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) after the treatment. The study aims to better understand how rTMS might help reduce amphetamine cravings and improve outcomes, potentially leading to new treatment options for AUD.

NCT Number	NCT06960265
Lead Sponsor	TsaoTun Psychiatric Center, Department of Health, Taiwan
Conditions	Amphetamine Use Disorders, Amphetamine Use Disorder, Amphetamine Dependence, Amphetamine Abuse, NIRS, rTMS, rTMS Stimulation
Enrollment	20 participants
Start Date	2025-05-15
Primary Completion	2025-12-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-12-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-05-07