Brain Mechanism and Intervention of Executive-control Dysfunction Among Gambling Disorder

Launched by SHANGHAI MENTAL HEALTH CENTER · Dec 24, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a treatment called transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to see if it can help people with gambling disorder improve their ability to control their actions and decisions. Researchers believe that this treatment may enhance the connections in the brain that are important for executive control, which is the mental process that helps us plan, focus, and make decisions. Participants will receive tACS treatment and will be followed for three months to assess any changes in their executive control abilities.

To be eligible for the trial, participants need to be between 18 and 60 years old, with at least nine years of education, and must meet specific criteria for gambling disorder as outlined in a mental health manual. They should have been gambling regularly for at least a year and have no serious medical conditions that could interfere with the study. Participants can expect to engage in evaluations and behavioral tests during the study and will need to agree to follow-up assessments. This trial is currently recruiting individuals of all genders who meet the criteria.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Aged 18-60, male or female, with 9 or more years of education, and able to complete questionnaire evaluation and behavioral tests
• • Meet DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders，DSM) diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder
• • Have gambled for at least one year (at least once a week)
• • Normal vision and hearing, or within the normal range after correction
• • Agree to cooperate in the follow-up evaluation
• • No metal implantation in the head, no history of nerve problems or head injury, and no skin sensitivity
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Have severe cognitive impairment, such as a history of head trauma, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, etc.
• • Have used drugs promoting cognitive function in the last 6 months
• • Have impaired intelligence (Intelligence Quotient\<70)
• • Abuse or dependence of psychoactive substances (except nicotine) in the last 5 years