Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Patients With Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Exploration of Non-invasive Theta Burst Stimulation in Patients With Methamphetamine Use Disorder: Efficacy and Mechanism

The study aims to apply the intermittent theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTBS) treatment and evaluate the effect in improving craving, affective symptoms, and cognitive function for those participants in the community with amphetamine use. An electroencephalography and blood biomarkers will also be examined to explore the possible mechanisms.

In this study, participants with amphetamine use will be recruited from psychiatric clinics. They will be randomly assigned to two different transcranial magnetic stimulation groups, the iTBS and sham groups. Those participants to receive 1-3 sessions in a single day at an interval of 15 minutes, and 5 high-frequency iTBS sessions per week in total four weeks. After the completion of the four-week course, the severity of symptoms for the next one month and three months will be tracked.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ranged 20-65.
2. Diagnosis as amphetamine use disorder by clinical psychiatrist according to DSM-V

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Major disorders other than substance use disorders in Diagnostic and Statistics Manual-5 (e.g. Schizophrenia, organic brain syndrome, and bipolar disorders).
2. Epilepsy, head trauma, migraine, cardiovascular comorbidity, atypical parkinsonian disorder
3. patients with heart pacemakers, implanted drug delivery aids, artificial electronic ears, implantable defibrillators, and/or implanted nerve stimulators, and near the implants mentioned above.
4. patients with metal implants above the chest.
5. people who have damaged skin in areas of the patient's body that receive stimulation.
6. patients with multiple sclerosis.
7. patients who have extensive ischemic scarring.
8. pregnant women.
9. patients with a family history of spasms/epilepsy
10. patients taking medications that may lower the seizure threshold.
11. patients with severe sleep disorders related to previous rTMS treatment.
12. patients with severe heart disease
13. patients with intracranial stress caused by uncontrollable migraines.
14. people who have been evaluated by a physician as unfit to participate in clinical trials.