Neuromodulation and Cognitive Training in Opioid Use Disorder

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · Dec 10, 2018

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at new ways to help people struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), which is a serious condition where individuals have a strong dependence on opioids, like prescription painkillers or heroin. The focus of the study is on two methods: a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training. The goal is to find out if these methods can help prevent relapses, which is a common challenge for those recovering from opioid addiction.

To participate in this trial, individuals need to be between 18 and 60 years old, have recently stopped using opioids (for at least 1-2 weeks), and meet specific criteria for opioid use disorder. Participants will be recruited from a supervised program called Lodging Plus at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, where they will stay for four weeks. During the study, they can expect to receive brain stimulation and engage in cognitive training while being monitored for their progress. It's important to note that individuals with certain medical conditions or other substance use disorders will not be eligible to join the study. This trial aims to find effective ways to support recovery and reduce the risk of relapse for those facing opioid addiction.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 20 abstinent individuals (18-60 years old; 1-2 weeks of abstinence) who meet DSM-V criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD) will be recruited from the Lodging Plus Program, part of University of Minnesota Medical Center
• • This 28-day program provides a supervised environment to treat individuals with OUD in which patients receive random drug screenings. Lodging Plus has 50 beds and admits an average of 20 patients per week and about 50% of patients admitted have a diagnosis of opioid use disorder.
• • Ability to provide written consent and comply with study procedures, meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria for OUD. Subjects may have current comorbid drug use, but their primary substance use disorder diagnosis needs to be based on opioid use. Subjects must have the intention to remain in the Lodging Plus program (4 weeks) until the end of the intervention portion of the study. Vulnerable populations will not be included.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Any medical condition or treatment with neurological sequelae (i.e. stroke, tumor, loss of consciousness\>30 min, HIV)
• • A head injury resulting in a skull fracture or a loss of consciousness exceeding 30 minutes (i.e., moderate or severe TBI)
• • Any contraindications for tDCS or MRI scanning (tDCS contraindication: history of seizures; MRI contraindications; metal implants, pacemakers or any other implanted electrical device, injury with metal, braces, dental implants, non-removable body piercings, pregnancy, breathing or moving disorder)
• • DSM-V criteria for psychiatric disorder, may have a lifetime diagnosis of depression
• • Presence of a condition that would render study measures difficult or impossible to administer or interpret
• • Age outside the range of 18 to 60
• • Primary current substance use disorder diagnosis on a substance other than opioid except for caffeine or nicotine
• • Clinical evidence for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
• • Nicotine use will be recorded.