Using brain stimulation to reduce cravings in chemsex patients

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 clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in reducing cravings for psychoactive substances among individuals engaged in chemsex. The study is designed as a single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled pilot trial, where participants will receive either the tDCS treatment or a placebo. The primary goal is to modulate brain activity related to substance craving and uncontrolled sexual behavior, potentially leading to improved health outcomes. Participants will be assessed for risk behaviors and cravings throughout the trial.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient who provides written consent
* Patient aged ≥ 18 years
* Patient motivated and willing to change chemsex behavior, assessed by examiner during screening and inclusion visits
* Patient using at least one of the following psychoactive substances to modify sexual performance and/or experience:

  * Cathinones, or methamphetamine, or MDMA, or cocaine, or ketamine, or GBL/GHB
  * ≥ 1 time per month over the past 6 months and/or ≥ 10 times over the past year

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient with a substance use disorder not involved in the practice of chemsex
* Patient with a recent change (\< 1 month) in the prescription of a psychotropic treatment
* Patient presenting an acute psychiatric condition requiring hospitalization and/or immediate modification of a psychotropic treatment
* Patients with unstable or uncontrolled neuropsychiatric disease
* Patients with a history of epileptic seizures
* Patients with unexplained episodes of loss of consciousness, as this condition may be linked to cerebral alterations or epilepsy
* Patients with advanced or decompensated somatic pathology, requiring hospitalization expected during study follow-up
* Patients suffering from any serious life-threatening illness, such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or active neoplasia
* Patients with implanted cerebral medical devices, implanted pacemakers, or any electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implant.
* Patients with cardiac, neural or drug implants
* Patients with vascular clips or other electrically sensitive support systems in the brain
* Patients with severe brain lesions
* Patients with skin lesions at stimulation sites
* Patients with skin problems such as dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema
* Patients with severe or frequent headaches
* Patients who have already benefited from tDCS sessions
* Pregnant, parturient or breast-feeding women (pregnancy test)
* Staff working in the addictology department of Dijon University Hospital
* Patient participating in another clinical trial
* Patient not affiliated to national health insurance
* Patient unable to complete assessment scales
* Patient under psychiatric care without consent or under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship)
* Major incapable or unable to provide consent

Where it's running

• CHU Dijon Bourgogne
  Dijon, France Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Benjamin PETIT
• Email: benjamin.petit@chu-dijon.fr
• Phone: 03.80.29.35.24

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Transgender-tailored harm reduction and PrEP service for people who engage in chemsex in Bangkok

  This project will try a comprehensive harm-reduction service tailored for transgender and non-binary adults in Bangkok who engage in chemsex or substance use to increase PrEP use, reduce HIV/STIs, and address mental health and socio-legal needs.

  Recruiting Institute of HIV Research and Innovation Foundation, Thailand · Pathum Wan, Bangkok · NCT07512856

• Adding sexual-pleasure conversations to harm reduction services for MSM and transgender people who do chemsex in Thailand

  This project will try using a 'Pleasuremeter' to guide sexual-pleasure conversations in harm reduction services for MSM and transgender people who engage in chemsex or substance use in Thailand to see if it improves sexual health, substance use, and related outcomes.

  Recruiting Institute of HIV Research and Innovation Foundation, Thailand · Pathum Wan, Bangkok · NCT07509853

• Chorioretinal Imaging and Vascular Biomarkers in Ultra-Trail Runners

  This study tests whether noninvasive eye imaging can reveal retinal and choroidal blood vessel changes in ultra-trail runners compared with active controls.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · Dijon · NCT07748936

• Lipid and mitochondrial clues in aortic aneurysm with bicuspid or tricuspid valves

  This study tests whether inflammatory and metabolic signatures in myeloid cells and aortic tissue differ between patients with bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valves who need surgery for ascending aortic aneurysm.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · Dijon · NCT07695545

• Value of trio genome sequencing in early-onset and atypical psychiatric disorders

  This study tests whether sequencing the genomes of a patient and both biological parents can help explain early-onset or unusual psychiatric disorders in people without intellectual disability or congenital anomalies.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · Dijon · NCT07686653

• Pupillometry to predict postoperative pain after heart surgery

  We’re testing whether measuring pupil responses can help predict how much pain a patient will feel after heart surgery once tubes come out and the patient can communicate.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · Dijon · NCT07648342

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.