Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation (tDCS) With Varenicline for Treating Tobacco Dependence

Smoking Cessation Clinical Trial

Official title:

Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation (tDCS) to Improve the Effectiveness of Varenicline for Treating Tobacco Dependence: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03841292
• Other study ID #: REB #044/2016
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: January 31, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: March 2022
• Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The addition of tDCS as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy is a novel approach but one that is grounded in a growing evidence-base.The primary objective of this research is to provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of tDCS as an adjunct treatment to pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation. The investigators hypothesize that the addition of active tDCS to the left DLPFC will improve the effectiveness of varenicline as reflected by higher quit rates at end of treatment compared to the sham group. Smoking status will be biochemically confirmed at various time points using expired cotinine measures. Furthermore, the investigators will be collecting neuroimaging (fMRI) data as well as measures of attentional bias to explore the neurological and physiological correlates from using adjunct tDCS and varenicline therapy.

Description:

While varenicline on its own is the most effective medication for smoking cessation, long-term abstinence is still relatively poor. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of adjunct active tDCS with varenicline in treating tobacco dependence. This study is a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial where 50 daily dependent treatment seeking smokers will be recruited at the Nicotine Dependence Clinic in Toronto, Canada. Participants will be receiving twelve weeks of varenicline treatment (1mg b.i.d.) and randomized 1:1 to either active tDCS (active: 20 minutes at 2 mA) or sham tDCS (30 seconds at 2 mA, 19.5 minutes at 0 mA), daily (M-F) for the first 2 weeks and then every 2 weeks for the next 10 weeks. There will be 2 fMRI scans at baseline and 1 scan at end-of-treatment. Eye-tracking viewing tests will be conducted at baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12 and at 6 months follow up. During the 6 month follow-up, participants will be answering questions regarding their smoking behaviour and craving. Smoking status will be biochemically confirmed at each study visit using expired cotinine.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 41
• Est. completion date: January 31, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: January 31, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 19 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or Female

• Aged 19-65

• Treatment seeking smoker

• Daily smoker of CPD>8

• Able to attend daily appointments for tDCS for the first 2 weeks and booster sessions for the next 10 weeks.

• Wiling to undergo 3 fMRI sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current/recent DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis

• Current use of psychoactive drugs or medications

• History of seizures/epilepsy

• Current use of NRT, e-cigarettes or other medications for smoking cessation

• Metal embedded in skull or implanted electrical devices

• No head injury (concussion or loss of consciousness for more than an hour)

• Contraindications to fMRI

• Contraindications to varenicline

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Disease
• Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
• Physiological Effects of Drugs
• Smoking Cessation
• Substance Use Disorders
• Substance-Related Disorders
• Tobacco Dependence
• Tobacco Smoking
• Tobacco Use Disorder

Intervention

Drug:
• Varenicline
Varenicline (Champix®), Pfizer Canada Inc., Kirkland, Quebec. Dispense for 12 weeks. One tablet (0.5mg) once daily for first three days, then one tablet (0.5 mg) twice daily for next four days, then 1 mg (one 1mg tablet) twice daily for the remainder of 12 weeks. Dose adjustments due to adverse events will be allowed (i.e. decrease to 0.5 mg twice daily).

Device:
• Active tDCS
Active 2mA tDCS (Nuraleve, Canada) with the anode placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the cathode placed over the right dlPFC for 20 minutes per session
• Sham tDCS
Shame tDCS (Nuraleve, Canada) (30 seconds of 2mA and 19.5 minutes of 0 mA) with the anode placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the cathode placed over the right dlPFC for 20 minutes per session.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Centre for Addiction and Mental Health	Toronto	Ontario

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Change in brain neurocircuitry over time	Differences in water diffusion in the brain when participants are at rest in a MRI scanner.	At baseline and 12 weeks following start of treatment
Other	Change in dynamic functional connectivity of the brain at rest over time	Related to differences in resting state functional brain networks when participants are not doing an explicit task in a fMRI scanner.	At baseline and 12 weeks following start of treatment
Primary	Change in smoking status over time	30 Day Continuous abstinence confirmed by expired CO	At weeks 12 and 26 following start of treatment
Secondary	Change in functional brain activation during cognitive tasks	change in fMRI BOLD response in the brain in response to smoking cues or when anticipating a monetary reward	At baseline and 12 weeks following start of treatment
Secondary	Change in preference of attention towards visual cues	Attentional bias to smoking cues, negative/positive cues and high-risk cues measured using an automated eye-tracking apparatus	At weeks 4,8, 12 and 26 weeks following start of treatment.