Actively Recruiting
Developing Functional Connectivity-Guided TMS for Alcohol Use Disorder
Led by VA Palo Alto Health Care System · Updated on 2025-08-13
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
18 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Lead Sponsor
S
Stanford University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Alcohol Use Disorders are currently positioned as the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, constituting a humanitarian crisis with substantial financial burden on society and medical facilities. While several pharmacological interventions exist, 60% of individuals who seek these treatments relapse to alcohol within 6 months. These high relapse rates are due in part to elevated brain response to alcohol cues in the environment. This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of one session of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a strategy to reduce brain reactivity to alcohol cues.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Developing Functional Connectivity-Guided TMS for Alcohol Use Disorder
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Between age 25 and 75.
- Current DSM-5 diagnosis of moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder with 4 or more diagnostic symptoms.
- Able to attend scheduled clinic visits.
- Able to read, understand, and voluntarily sign informed consent before participating.
- Stable medication regimen if on medications during the study.
- Fluent in English.
You will not qualify if you...
- Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) such as pacemaker, cochlear implant, deep brain stimulation, metal near the treatment area, claustrophobia, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Medical, neurological, or disease conditions interfering with participation or assessments.
- Unable to safely stop medications that increase seizure risk at least two weeks before treatment.
- Current substance abuse except caffeine or nicotine.
- Presence of brain lesions, cerebral infarcts, active CNS diseases, alcohol-related seizures, or seizure disorders.
- Recent suicide attempt within 30 days or current suicidal plan or intent.
- Severe vision, hearing, or hand movement problems affecting study participation.
- History of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
- Taking benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, or medications altering seizure threshold.
- Unstable chronic illness.
- Current or lifetime bipolar disorder or psychosis.
- Participation in another clinical trial involving interventions.
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Palo Alto, California, United States, 94304
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
D
Daniel McCalley
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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