tDCS + Mindfulness Meditation for Cannabis Use Disorder

Overseen By Giuseppina Pilloni

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: NYU Langone Health

Disqualifiers: Substance use disorder, Alcohol use disorder, Axis 1 disorders, Neurologic disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 20

Duration: 4 weeks

46 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new method to help individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) reduce or quit cannabis use. It combines RS-tDCS (repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation), which involves mild electrical stimulation to the brain, with mindfulness meditation. Participants will receive either the real treatment or a sham version to compare results. The researchers aim to determine if this approach is safe and effective. This trial targets those who frequently use cannabis and wish to cut down or stop. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new treatment options for cannabis use disorder.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using cannabis as prescribed by a provider, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for reducing cannabis use disorder?

Studies have shown that using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) at home is a safe option for reducing cannabis use. In one pilot study, researchers found that participants easily managed tDCS at home, with no major negative effects reported, suggesting its safety for everyday use.

Another study supported these findings, indicating that at-home tDCS might be a safe and convenient way to manage cannabis addiction. Participants did not report any major safety concerns. Overall, early research suggests that tDCS, when combined with mindfulness meditation, is a well-tolerated treatment option for those wanting to reduce cannabis use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with mindfulness meditation for cannabis use disorder because it represents a novel approach to treatment. Unlike traditional options that often involve behavioral therapy and medication, this method directly targets the brain's dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which is associated with decision-making and impulse control. This non-invasive brain stimulation technique, delivered remotely, offers a new mechanism by potentially enhancing cognitive control and reducing cravings. Additionally, the combination with mindfulness meditation aims to improve overall mental wellness, making it a holistic approach.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cannabis use disorder?

Research has shown that a type of electrical brain stimulation called RS-tDCS, when combined with mindfulness meditation, can help reduce cannabis use. In this trial, participants in the "Active tDCS" arm will receive active RS-tDCS sessions, which earlier studies have demonstrated can significantly decrease weekly cannabis use. Meanwhile, participants in the "Sham tDCS" arm will receive sham sessions. Another study found that active RS-tDCS also improved cognitive function and emotional well-being, with these benefits lasting for three months. These findings suggest that RS-tDCS could effectively aid individuals with cannabis use disorder in reducing their use. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Leigh Charvet, PhD

Principal Investigator

NYU Langone Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults who want to cut down on cannabis use due to Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Participants must be seeking treatment and willing to do home-based sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 22 and 65 years old.

I am fluent in English or Spanish.

I can use smartphones or tablets.

Exclusion Criteria

Primary neurologic, psychiatric, or major medical disorders

History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

Meets DSM-V criteria for alcohol use disorder within the past six months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a one-month intervention consisting of 20 home-based active or sham RS-tDCS sessions paired with mindfulness meditation

4 weeks

20 sessions (remote)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cannabis use and psychological measures

1 month

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mindfulness meditation
• RS-tDCS

Trial Overview The study tests if a one-month intervention with either active or sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (RS-tDCS) combined with guided mindfulness meditation can help reduce cannabis use in adults with CUD.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Active tDCS Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will complete 20 remotely supervised (RS) daily sessions, each 20 minutes, of active dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tDCS combined with mindfulness meditation.

Group II: Sham tDCS Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will complete 20 RS sham sessions, each 20 minutes, of active DLPFC tDCS combined with mindfulness meditation.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

NYU Langone Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,431

Recruited

838,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07184983

Study Details | NCT07184983 | RS-tDCS for Cannabis Use ... The purpose of this sham-controlled pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of a one-month ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871625001590

Telehealth tDCS to reduce cannabis use: A pilot RCT in ... The active tDCS group showed significant reductions in weekly cannabis use (Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory, ...

3. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11176620

RePORT RePORTER - National Institutes of Health (NIH) | We propose a novel, home-based intervention combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with mindfulness meditation, targeting the dorsolateral ...

4. brainstimjrnl.com brainstimjrnl.com/article/S1935-861X(24)00986-0/fulltext

A Pilot Study of Home-Based tDCS in Cannabis Use Disorder We found that a one-month tDCS intervention reduced cannabis use in women with MS, who face high rates of CUD and heightened health risks from chronic use.

5. neurologylive.com neurologylive.com/view/using-brain-stimulation-to-curb-cannabis-overuse-multiple-sclerosis

Using Brain Stimulation to Curb Cannabis Overuse in ... Participants showed meaningful gains in cognitive and emotional functioning, and these improvements lasted even three months after the ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8861082/

The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current ... No significant effects of stimulation on risk-taking behavior were found. However, participants chose the less risky option ∼86% of the trials before ...

7. nyulangone.org nyulangone.org/news/brain-stimulation-may-reduce-cannabis-addiction-people-multiple-sclerosis

Brain Stimulation May Reduce Cannabis Addiction in ... “Our initial study suggests that at-home transcranial direct current stimulation may offer a safe, portable option that people with cannabis use ...

8. brieflands.com brieflands.com/journals/ijpbs/articles/142498

Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the ... Conclusions: Transcranial direct current stimulation can be considered an effective therapeutic approach for reducing cannabis craving, ...