Deep Brain Stimulation to Understand and Treat Addiction
ConditionAlcohol Use Disorder
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-60
SponsorUniversity of Cambridge
About this trial
This study is testing whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) can safely help people with severe alcohol use disorder who have not improved with standard treatments. DBS uses small electrical signals to change activity in brain areas linked to craving, self-control, and emotion. The study will test whether this treatment can reduce how often people drink and how much they drink each day. Researchers will also record brain activity to better understand how DBS affects craving and relapse.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged 18 to 60 years
Diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) according to DSM-5 criteria
Primary diagnosis of treatment-refractory AUD (comorbid nicotine dependence, other psychoactive substance use disorders, moderate major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder are permissible if AUD is principal)
Disorder duration of AUD ≥ 5 years
Disqualifiers
Severe psychiatric disorder other than Alcohol Use Disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder)
Severe major depressive disorder (moderate depression acceptable)
Current active suicidal ideation or history of serious suicide attempts
Previous treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Dual-Target Deep Brain Stimulation
- Nucleus Accumbens Deep Brain Stimulation
- Ventral Internal Capsule Deep Brain Stimulation
- Sham Deep Brain Stimulation
Treatment groups
9 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
University of Cambridge
Lead sponsor
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Collaborator
King's College Hospital NHS Trust
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov