Amphetamine Use Disorder (AUD) is a major public health issue in Taiwan, where it is the most commonly abused illegal drug. There are currently no effective approved medications to treat it, which makes finding new treatment options urgent. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation method, has shown promise in reducing cravings and drug use in people with addiction, but its effects on AUD are not well studied.
To explore this, the investigators plan to conduct a double-blind, sham-controlled study with 20 people diagnosed with AUD. Half will receive real rTMS treatment, and half will receive a placebo-like sham treatment. The treatment targets a specific brain area (the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and will be given 10 times over two weeks.
The investigators will assess the effectiveness of rTMS by tracking drug cravings, urine test results, and side effects with follow-up over 12 weeks. The investigators also include brain imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) after the treatment.
The study aims to better understand how rTMS might help reduce amphetamine cravings and improve outcomes, potentially leading to new treatment options for AUD.
Age ≥20 years.
Meeting DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder made by a specialist in addiction psychiatry.
Fluency in Chinese.
Willingness and ability to comply with study requirements.
Evidence of an uncontrolled and/or clinically significant medical condition, e.g., cardiac, hepatic and renal failure that would compromise patient safety or preclude study participation.
Premorbid mental retardation.
Other major Axis-I Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnoses other than substance use disorder.
Pregnancy or nursing.