Optimization of NIBS for Treatment of Addiction

NCT ID: NCT04379115

Last Updated: 2026-01-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

126 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-04-04

Study Completion Date

2027-10-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) applied in conjunction with Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS) for the treatment of addiction in opiate use disorder with chronic pain. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a decrease in drug use and improved psychosocial assessments with active stimulation, when compared to sham stimulation.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Opioid-use Disorder Chronic Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

single-center, double-blinded, placebo controlled, randomized study.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Triple

Study Groups

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Active (tDCS) + Active TUS

Subjects in the experimental group will undergo 20 minutes of active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and active transcranial ultrasound (TUS)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active Comparator: Active tDCS + Active TUS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Device: Active comparator device: Active transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active tDCS. During each Active stimulation session, stimulation will be applied for the full 20 minutes.

Device: Active comparator device: Active Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS). Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS). During active stimulation the (TUS) will be active for the full 20 minutes.

Sham (tDCS) + Sham TUS

Subjects in the sham group will undergo 20 minutes of sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and sham transcranial ultrasound (TUS).

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS + Sham TUS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Device: SHAM Comparator Device: transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Subjects will receive 20 minutes of sham tDCS. In the sham group, the tDCS device will not be active for the full 20 minutes.

Device: Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS) Subjects will receive 20 minutes of sham TUS. During sham stimulation the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.

Interventions

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Active Comparator: Active tDCS + Active TUS

Device: Active comparator device: Active transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active tDCS. During each Active stimulation session, stimulation will be applied for the full 20 minutes.

Device: Active comparator device: Active Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS). Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS). During active stimulation the (TUS) will be active for the full 20 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS + Sham TUS

Device: SHAM Comparator Device: transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Subjects will receive 20 minutes of sham tDCS. In the sham group, the tDCS device will not be active for the full 20 minutes.

Device: Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS) Subjects will receive 20 minutes of sham TUS. During sham stimulation the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Providing informed consent to participate in the study.
2. 18 to 85 years old.
3. Having a diagnosis of OUD, in the setting of CP:

* OUD of more than 6 months duration as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) \[64\] and a positive urine toxicology screen.
* or OUD patients who still feel craving or have not received more than 60 mg of methadone/day from the Methadone program.
4. Lives in the immediate area with no plans to relocate

Exclusion Criteria

1. The subject is pregnant.
2. Recently started on antiepileptic drug therapy.
3. History of illegal stimulant use as demonstrated by urine toxicology.
4. . Ingestion of poppy seeds or herbal teas containing Papaveris Fructus (may cause a positive opiate test for morphine, codeine \[66, 67\]).
5. History of neurological disorders involving stroke, brain tumors, or epilepsy as self- reported (note patients will also be evaluated via electroencephalography (EEG) at baseline 1 week prior to stimulation and any patient showing abnormal EEG activity will be removed)).
6. History of unexplained fainting spells as self-reported.
7. History of head injury resulting in more than a momentary loss of consciousness as self-reported.
8. History of brain surgery as self-reported.
9. Contraindications to tDCS applied in conjunction with TUS:

* Metal in the head, or
* Implanted brain medical devices.
10. Suffering from severe depression (with a score of \>30 in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), PHQ-9≥10).
11. Active malignancy.
12. History of suicidal behavior or suicide attempts.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Highland Instruments, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Case Western Reserve University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Ciro R Estebanez, MD PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/ Case Western Reserve University

Locations

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University of Illinois Health/ University of Illinois at Chicago

Hinsdale, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital - 5th Floor - Neuromodulation Center

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/ Dahms Clinical Research Unit

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Megan Miller

Role: CONTACT

216-844-4720

Kimberly Bright

Role: CONTACT

(216) 844-0474

Facility Contacts

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Elizabeth Villagrana

Role: primary

312-413-0483

Ciro Ramos Estebanez

Role: backup

Elly Pichardo, MD

Role: primary

617-952-6158

Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD

Role: backup

Jillian Russell, MSN, RN-BC

Role: primary

216-844-4901

Ciro R Estebanez, MD, PhD

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

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STUDY20190760

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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