Using brain stimulation to help people quit smoking
Official title: Evaluation of the Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Nicotine-Dependent Tobacco Users
Run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · NCT04209153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether a type of brain stimulation can help daily smokers manage their cravings and quit smoking while they also receive therapy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Paris, IDF) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 29, 2021 |
| Main results expected | February 28, 2028 |
| Study ends | May 29, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 12, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT04209153 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults over 18 years old who are nicotine dependent and consume tobacco daily.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, lactating, or have conditions like intracranial hypertension may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study explores the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a non-invasive method to help adults with tobacco dependence manage cravings. The approach aims to provide an alternative to traditional pharmacological treatments, which often come with side effects. Participants will receive targeted brain stimulation while also engaging in psychotherapy, with the goal of reducing their tobacco use. The study focuses on individuals who are nicotine dependent and consume tobacco daily.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, effective method for reducing cravings and aiding in smoking cessation without the side effects of medication.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of tDCS for addiction treatment is still emerging, preliminary studies suggest potential benefits, indicating that this approach is novel but not entirely untested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women over the age of 18 * Nicotine dependent subjects according to the Fagerström test (score ≥5) * Subjects consuming daily tobacco. * Subjects understanding and reading French and able to express themselves in this language. * Signed informed consent to participate indicating that the subject has understood the purpose and the procedures required by the study and agrees to participate in the study and to comply with the requirements and limitations of this study * Affiliation to the French social security scheme or beneficiary of such a scheme. * No other method to decrease or stop smoking at the same time as the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Guardianship * Pregnant or lactating woman * Patient under AME * Subject being in the exclusion period of another study or provided for by the "National Volunteer File". * Subjects with intracranial hypertension * Subject unlikely to cooperate with the study and / or weak cooperation anticipated by the investigator. * Treatment with buproprion or varenicline in progress * Episode or family history of epilepsy, convulsion. * Disease causing damage to the brain (aneurysm, tumor, ...). * Cochlear or ocular implant. * Stimulator or cardiac defibrillator. * Presence of metal in the skull (clip on aneurysm, prosthesis, ...). * Eczema on the scalp.
Where it's running
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Psychiatrie Adultes Et Addictologie
Paris, Idf, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Florence THIBAUT, PHD
- Email: florence.thibaut@aphp.fr
- Phone: (33) 1 58 41 16 79
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.