The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cue-induced craving in male patients with heroin use disorder
Xiaoli Liu,
Xiwen Zhao,
Ting Liu,
Qingming Liu,
Li Tang,
Hui Zhang,
Wenbo Luo,
Zafiris J. Daskalakis,
Ti-Fei Yuan
Affiliations
Xiaoli Liu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China; Ningbo Key Laboratory of Sleep Medicine, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Xiwen Zhao
Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, U.S.A
Ting Liu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Qingming Liu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Li Tang
Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, U.S.A
Hui Zhang
Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, U.S.A
Wenbo Luo
Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China; Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neurosience, Liaoning Province, China; Corresponding author: Dr. Wenbo Luo, Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China.
Zafiris J. Daskalakis
Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ti-Fei Yuan
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding author: Dr. Ti-Fei Yuan, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai.
Background: Craving is a central feature of addiction. Early evidence suggests that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is effective in reducing cue induced craving for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, trials in large populations of patients with OUDs are lacking. Methods: We randomly assigned 118 male heroin patients into three groups (i.e., 10 Hz rTMS, 1 Hz rTMS and a wait-list control group) from two addiction rehabilitation centers. rTMS was applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 20 daily consecutive sessions. Findings: Results showed that 10 Hz rTMS and 1 Hz rTMS were both effective in reducing cue-induced craving scores in heroin users when compared to the wait list group. The treatment effects lasted for up to 60 days after rTMS treatment cessation. Interpretation: Our results suggest that rTMS applied to the DLPFC is effective in reducing craving severity in heroin use disorder patients. Our results also suggest that such treatment effects can last for up to 60 days after treatment cessation.