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RTMS Targets Neural Circuits for Smoking Cessation

RTMS Manipulates Imbalanced Drive-reward and Executive Control Circuitry for Smoking Cessation

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04903028
Enrollment
64
Registered
2021-05-26
Start date
2021-05-15
Completion date
2027-04-04
Last updated
2026-04-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cigarette Smoking, Tobacco Use

Keywords

Tobacco use disorder, rTMS, smoking cessation

Brief summary

Cigarette smoking is a significant public health concern. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that has already displayed remarkable potential for producing novel, non-pharmacological interventions for depression and cigarette smokers. In this study, investigators will use brain MRI to guide TMS therapy for smoking cessation.

Detailed description

Smoking cessation is difficult, despite the demonstrated efficacy of several pharmacotherapeutic agents and cognitive behavioral therapies. This may be due to imbalanced neuronal circuits, including elevated functional connectivity in the drive-reward circuit (medial orbital frontal cortex \[mOFC\] to nucleus accumbens \[NAc\]) and decreased functional connectivity in the executive control circuit (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex\[ DLPFC\] to NAc). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new class of therapeutics that has already displayed remarkable potential for producing novel, non-pharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies have reported that rTMS decreased cue craving, reduced cigarette consumption, and increased smoking quit rate in tobacco use disorders(TUDs). However, the treatment parameters and exact mechanism for rTMS increasing smoking quit rate need further refinement. The goal of this study is to develop a circuit-based precision rTMS therapy for smoking cessation further. In the 3-year UH3 phase, investigators will conduct a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial of rTMS in 64 treatment-seeking tobacco use disorders (TUDs) smokers. Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: 1\. Sham rTMS, or 2. Active 10 Hz personalized-fMRI and E-field-modeling guided rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). All participants will receive 20 daily sessions of rTMS over 4 weeks. Functional MRI scans will be performed prior to the first TMS treatment, after TMS session 10, and after the last TMS treatment session. All participants will have a one-week follow-up and 4 monthly follow-up visits (after the last TMS session 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months) after the last TMS session.

Interventions

DEVICESham rTMS

Two electrodes on the scalp will be connected to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

DEVICEActive rTMS 10 Hz DLPFC

10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) will be delivered over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

Sponsors

Medical University of South Carolina
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Sixty-four treatment-seeking TUDs between the ages of 22 and 70 will be randomly divided into two groups on a 1:1 basis (32 participants/condition). The first condition will receive E-sham rTMS and the other condition will receive active 10 Hz personalized-fMRI and E-field modeling guided rTMS (3000 pulses/session) over the left DLPFC.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
22 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Be between the ages of 22 and 70 years old. * Smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day and have a carbon monoxide (CO) level \> 10 ppm indicative of recent smoking. * Have not received substance abuse treatment within the previous 30 days. * Meet the criteria for tobacco use disorder as determined by DSM-5. * Be in stable mental and physical health. * If female, test non-pregnant and use adequate birth control. * Show no evidence of focal or diffuse brain lesions on MRI. * Be willing to provide informed consent. * Be able to comply with protocol requirements and likely to complete all study procedures. * Be motivated to quit smoking (based on responses of "very likely," or "somewhat likely" in the motivation questionnaire).

Exclusion criteria

* Current moderate to severe substance use of any psychoactive substances other than nicotine or caffeine, as defined by DSM-V criteria. * Contraindications to MRI (e.g., presence of metal in the skull, orbital or intracranial cavity, or having claustrophobia). * Contraindication to rTMS. * History of autoimmune, endocrine, viral, or vascular disorders affecting the brain. * History or MRI evidence of neurological disorder that would lead to local or diffuse brain lesions or significant physical impairment. * Unstable cardiac disease, uncontrolled hypertension, severe renal or liver insufficiency, or sleep apnea. * Lifetime history of major Axis I disorders such as: bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dementia, suicidal ideation or major depression. * Self-report of \>21 standard alcohol drinks per week in any week in the 30 days prior to screening. * Use of other forms of nicotine delivery, such as nicotine patches, electronic cigarettes, gum, nasal spray, inhalers, and nicotine lozenges. * Use of other tobacco products, including cigars, cigarillos, chew, snuff, and pouches/snus. * Previous treatment with TMS.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
4 week continue quit rate20 weeksMeasured by self-report of smoking abstinence in the past 4 weeks and confirmed using urine cotinine measurement.
Task-functional connectivity from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)4 weekThe strength of functional connectivity is used to present the brain activities. The fMRI scans will be measured before the first TMS, after 2 weeks TMS and after the last TMS treatment.
Cigarette per day20 weeksCigarette per day (CPD) is measured to index smoking reduction and cigarette consumption.
Adverse Event4 weeksParticipants will be asked about adverse events (AE) each visit during treatment. AEs will be measured each TMS treatment visit.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Craving for cigarettes4 weeksMeasured with a visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS has 1-7 score. The minimum is 1 which means the lowest craving for smoking. The maximum value is 7 which is the highest craving for cigarettes. Participants will be asked to complete the scale each treatment visit.
Prolonged abstinence rate from end of treatment (Week 4) to end of follow-up (Week 20).20 weeksMeasured by self-report of smoking abstinence and confirmed using urine cotinine measurement.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTXingbao Li, MD, MSCR, MS
lixi@musc.edu843-792-5729
CONTACTRebecca Keneally
keneally@musc.edu843-792-0136
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORXingbao Li, MD, MSCR, MS

Medical University of South Carolina

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 17, 2026