High-intensity brain stimulation to help with alcohol use disorder

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This one-arm pilot study examines the preliminary effects of a two-week course of high-intensity transcranial alternating current stimulation (HI-tACS) on adults with alcohol use disorder. Participants will receive HI-tACS and undergo clinical assessments, EEG, and MRI before and after the intervention to explore changes in craving, self-regulation, decision-making, and brain activity. The goal is to generate initial clinical and mechanistic data to inform future research on HI-tACS as a neuromodulation therapy for AUD. The study also evaluates tolerability and safety in this population. MRI contraindications and other exclusion criteria ensure participant safety throughout the imaging protocol.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Education level of junior high school or above, capable of completing questionnaires and behavioral tests;
* Aged 18-60 years;
* Meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder;
* No abnormal findings on physical examination;
* Agree to participate in follow-up assessments;
* No contraindications for MRI scanning.

Exclusion criteria:

* Have impaired intelligence (Intelligence Quotient\<70);
* Prior tDCS or TMS treatment within the past 3 months;
* Contraindications for TMS therapy (e.g., intracranial metal implants, history of traumatic brain injury, skull defects, cardiac pacemakers, cardiovascular diseases, or epilepsy);
* Severe somatic diseases or major organ dysfunction;
* Psychiatric disorders per DSM-5 criteria (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, memory impairment, or other cognitive disorders).
* Psychiatric disorders per DSM-5 criteria (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, memory impairment, or other cognitive disorders).
* Diagnosis of other substance-related and addictive disorders or behavioral addictions.

Where it's running

• Shanghai Mental Health Center
  Shanghai, China Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jiang Du, MD, PhD.
• Email: dujiangdou@163.com
• Phone: +8602164906315

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.