The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) plus varenicline is an effective, safe and accessible treatment option for smoking cessation. The main questions this trial aims to answer are:
1. Does active tDCS plus varenicline improve short-term and long-term smoking abstinence rates compared to sham tDCS plus varenicline? 2. Are the safety profiles between active tDCS plus varenicline and sham tDCS plus varenicline different?
The tDCS treatment schedule includes 10 daily sessions for the first 2 weeks (M to F), followed by 5 single bi-weekly booster sessions for the remainder of the treatment period. Participants will come in-person for two follow-up sessions to assess smoking behaviour at 6- and 12-months post-treatment.
Be able to provide informed written consent
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures
Age 18-85 years
Smoke ≥ 8 cigarettes per day (CPD)
Use of smoking cessation medication (e.g. buproprion, varenicline, NRT, cytisine) in the past 3 months
Current regular use of nicotine-containing products besides cigarettes (e.g. electronic cigarettes, etc.)
Unstable psychiatric illness that would adversely impact study participation and compliance (determined by the QI)
History of seizures/epilepsy
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Lead sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborator