Actively Recruiting
Accelerated Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Smoking Cessation
Led by Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care · Updated on 2026-04-21
40
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating whether a 5-day course of bilateral accelerated deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) can be a feasible treatment to help adults aged 18 to 65 with Tobacco Use Disorder quit smoking. This Phase 2 clinical trial aims to enroll 30 to 40 participants and will assess treatment tolerability, acceptability, participant retention, and adherence to the scheduled sessions. It also explores how aTMS affects smoking outcomes such as abstinence, craving, cigarette consumption, and dependence severity over several weeks of follow-up. The treatment involves bilateral accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the insula and prefrontal cortex using the Health Canada-approved H4 coil. Participants will receive 20 sessions of aTMS over five consecutive days, with four sessions each day. This accelerated approach differs from traditional methods by delivering multiple sessions daily. The study focuses on the feasibility and tolerability of this intensive 1-week treatment schedule. Participants will attend treatment sessions daily for one week, followed by follow-up visits at weeks 3, 5, 9, 13, and 26 to monitor smoking abstinence and other outcomes. Researchers will collect data on side effects, treatment acceptability, session attendance, and changes in tobacco craving and dependence. The study carefully monitors participant safety and retention throughout the treatment and follow-up periods, aiming to understand the potential of aTMS in supporting smoking cessation over six months.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Accelerated dTMS Smoking Cessation
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Aged 18 years or older
- Diagnosed with Tobacco Use Disorder according to DSM-5
- Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence score of 4 or higher
- Motivated to quit smoking within 30 days with a Contemplation Ladder score of 7 or more
- Able and willing to sign informed consent
- Willing to comply with all study procedures
- Able to communicate in English
You will not qualify if you...
- Not smoked for 3 months before screening
- Currently using other smoking cessation aids
- Contraindication to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- Pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
- History of cerebrovascular disease
- Unstable major psychiatric disorders preventing study participation
- Serious neurological or medical conditions preventing inclusion
- Personal or family history of seizures
- Taking medications that lower seizure threshold such as clozapine
- Using more than 2 mg lorazepam daily or any anticonvulsant medication
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
Duration - 5 days
Participants receive accelerated bilateral deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the insula and prefrontal cortex using the H4 coil over five consecutive days.
4 sessions daily for 5 consecutive days
Duration - Up to 26 weeks
Participants are monitored for smoking abstinence and related outcomes following treatment completion.
Visits occurring periodically during follow-up
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
Actively Recruiting
2
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Not Yet Recruiting
Research Team
F
Florence Tang, MA
V
Vincent Wang, MD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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