Using brain stimulation to help people with internet gaming addiction
Official title: Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Patients Suffering From Pathological Use of Internet Gaming : Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind, Monocentric Pilot Study
Run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · NCT04120714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a type of brain stimulation can help people aged 12 and older who are struggling with internet gaming addiction to cut back on their gaming and feel better overall.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dijon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 6, 2020 |
| Main results expected | November 2027 |
| Study ends | November 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT04120714 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 12 and older who exhibit symptoms of pathological use of internet gaming and are motivated to reduce or stop their gaming habits.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe psychiatric comorbidities, gambling addiction, or those who cannot provide consent 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 study investigates the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment for individuals suffering from pathological use of internet gaming (PUIG). Participants aged 12 and older who meet DSM-5 criteria for PUIG will receive either active or placebo tDCS, alongside questionnaires to assess their condition. The goal is to determine if tDCS can help reduce the compulsive gaming behavior and improve the overall well-being of affected individuals. The study aims to provide a novel intervention for a growing mental health concern linked to excessive internet use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce compulsive gaming behaviors and improve the quality of life for patients struggling with internet gaming addiction.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of tDCS for various psychiatric conditions is being explored, this specific application for pathological internet gaming is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient aged ≥ 12 years old * Patient and/or parents who have given oral consent * Patient with PUIG (DSM-5 criteria) * Patient that is motivated and willing to reduce or stop internet gaming Exclusion Criteria: * a person who is not affiliated to or not a beneficiary of a social security scheme * Patient with severe chronic psychiatric comorbidity (schizophrenia, paranoia, chronic hallucinatory psychosis) and bipolar disorder types I and II * Patient with a gambling addiction * Patient who has had a recent change (\< 1 month) in the prescription of psychotropic treatment * Patient with an addiction to a psychoactive substance other than tobacco * Patient receiving psychiatric care without consent or legal protection (guardianship, curatorship) * Minor patient without parental consent for care * Patient with severe heart, kidney, liver or lung failure * Patient with a contraindication to the practice of tDCS: metal parts, medical devices implanted in the brain * Pregnancy or breastfeeding in progress (negative pregnancy test) * Patient unable to commit to a three-month follow-up
Where it's running
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CHU de DIJON
Dijon, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Benoît TROJAK
- Email: benoit.trojak@chu-dijon.fr
- Phone: 03.80.29.37.69
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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.