Theta-Burst Stimulation as a Treatment for Reducing Cocaine Use

This is an interventional basic science trial for Cocaine Use Disorder focused on measuring Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Read More

• INCLUSION CRITERIA - TOLERABILITY PILOT:

  1. Be able to give valid informed consent.

  2. Be 18 - 60 years of age.

     1. Justification: Many neural processes change with age, and these changes could introduce unwanted variability in both behavioral and MRI signals.

     2. Screening tool: Self-report. Government-issued forms of identification (e.g. driver s license, birth certificate)

        3 .Right-handed.

     1. Justification: Differences in hemispheric dominance could confound iTBS administration and MRI measurements.
     2. Screening tool: Edinburgh Handedness Inventory.

  4. Be in good health.

  1. Justification: Many illnesses may alter neural functioning as well as fMRI signals.

  2. Screening tools: Medical Assessment, Medical History and Physical Examination. Medical assessments include: Vital Signs, EKG, oral HIV test, height/weight measurements, urinalysis, and blood sample. Tests on the blood sample include CBC, complete metabolic profile, TSH, ESR, syphilis test, and HIV (if needed to confirm a positive salivary test for HIV). The following individual laboratory results will independently disqualify individuals: Cholesterol >250 mg/dl, Hemoglobin < 10 g/dl, WBC < 2400/microliter, LFTs > 3 X upper normal limit, HCG positive, Casual serum glucose > 200 mg/dl, Urine protein > 1+, HIV positive. (Serum glucose over 140 mg/dl will be followed up with a fasting serum glucose assessment. Those with fasting glucose below 100 mg/dl may be considered for the protocol. Others will be rejected and referred for work-up.) Liver function will be evaluated with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT). A greater than 3 x upper normal limit for AST or ALT will disqualify individuals. MAI reserves the right to exclude at less extreme lab values if clinical judgment warrants exclusion.

     5. Absence of a specific learning disability, ADHD or cognitive impairment

  1. Justification: Participants must be able to perform a cognitively challenging task to a high standard.

  2. Screening tool: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale with follow up clinical interview, Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), History of placement in special education classes for a learning problem.

     6. Participants will meet DSM-5 criteria for current moderate to severe substance (i.e., cocaine) use disorder, without a period of continuous abstinence lasting a one-month period over the last year, other than in a controlled environment.

  1. Justification: cocaine use disorder, in regular users, is the focus of this protocol.
  2. Screening tool: Potential diagnoses will be evaluated by a counselor using any one or more of the following: Drug Use Survey, SCID Screen Patient Questionnaire, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I), Addiction Severity Index, and Brief Cocaine Cessation Motivation Assessment. The interviewer will supplement SCID with questions to assess for DSM-5 substance use disorders. The MAI may be consulted in this determination.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA - TOLERABILITY PILOT:

1. History of any neurological disorder that would increase seizure risk from iTBS such as stroke, brain lesions, previous neurosurgery, any history of seizure or fainting episode of unknown cause, or head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness, lasting over 30 minutes or with sequela lasting longer than one month.

   1. Justification: Stroke, vascular lesions or head trauma can lower the seizure threshold, and are therefore contra-indications for iTBS. Fainting episodes or syncope of unknown cause could indicate an undiagnosed condition associated with seizures.
   2. Screening tool: TMS safety Screen, Medical History and clinical MRI/MRA scan.

2. Current DSM-5 moderate-severe substance use disorder on a substance other than cocaine, nicotine, marijuana, or opiates (provided they are currently stable on Suboxone) or meeting withdrawal criteria for alcohol or a sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic, or tolerance criteria in an individual using 3 or more days/week, regardless of diagnosis. Individuals will be considered stable on

   Suboxone if they have been on a stable dose for at least 2-weeks prior to consenting to 17-DA-N002 and have provided at least 3 urine specimens negative for illicit opioids over the same 2-week period (10 business days) with at least one test collected within two business days of the start of the period, one collected within three business days of the end of the period and one collected at

   least two days from either of the other two specimens. Urine results may be gathered at NIDA as part of screening or be provided by the Suboxone prescriber. Communication between the Suboxone provider and the MAI (or covering Staff Clinician) will be ongoing to establish continued illicit opioid abstinence between participant clearance and consent to 17-DA-N002. Individuals must be receiving their Suboxone as take-home doses from an external (i.e., non-NIDA-IRP) provider.

   1. Justification: While use of multiple substances is the norm and some use will be allowed, the focus of the current protocol is on cocaine. However, participants with tolerance or withdrawal symptoms to alcohol or a sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic will be at increased risk of a seizure from iTBS and will therefore be excluded. Individuals receiving Suboxone and struggling with cocaine use are an ecologically valid population in the greater Baltimore area and do not increase risk of seizure.
   2. Screening tool: Drug Use Survey and SCID Screen Patient Questionnaire or M.I.N.I). The interviewer will supplement SCID with questions to assess for DSM-5 substance use disorders. Potential diagnoses will be further evaluated with a clinical interview with a counselor.

3. First-degree family history of any neurological disorder with a potentially hereditary basis, including migraines, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis.

   1. ustification: Neurological disorders can lower the seizure threshold, and are therefore contra-indications for iTBS. First-degree family history of certain neurological disorders with a hereditary component increases the risk of the participant having an undiagnosed condition that is associated with lowered seizure threshold.
   2. Screening tool: TMS safety screening, Medical History.

4. Cardiac pacemakers, neural stimulators, implantable defibrillator, implanted medication pumps, intracardiac lines, or acute, unstable cardiac disease, with intracranial implants (e.g. aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object in the body that precludes iTBS administration.

   1. Justification: Certain metal in the body is a contra-indication for iTBS administration, as this method involves exposure to a relatively strong static magnetic field that can move magnetic material not securely bound and rapidly alternating magnetic fields that can generate heat and current in metal contained in the body.
   2. Screening tool: Medical History, TMS safety screen.

5. Noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.

   1. Justification: individuals with noise-induced hearing problems may be particularly vulnerable to the acoustic noise generated by iTBS equipment.
   2. Screening tools: TMS safety screening.

6. Current use (any use in the past 4 weeks, daily use for more than a week within past 6 months) of any investigational drug or of any medications with psychotropic (e.g., benzodiazepines), anti or pro-convulsive action, or anti-coagulants. This will be determined at the discretion of the MAI.

   1. Justification: The use of certain medications or drugs can lower seizure threshold during use or withdrawal and is therefore contra-indicated for iTBS. Such medications may also alter neural functioning independent of the individual s drug use or the effects of the iTBS and thus add more variability to our data.
   2. Screening tools: MRI safety screening questionnaire, Medical history, Medical Assessments: Urine toxicology analyzes for presence of a broad range of prescription and nonprescription drugs.

7. Lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania.

   1. Justification: The population of interest here is a healthy population with no psychiatric disorders other than substance use disorders. In participants with bipolar disorder, mania or hypomania, there is a small chance that iTBS can trigger (hypo)manic symptoms. As some degree of depressive symptoms is common in cocaine dependence and may result from the drug use, mild unipolar depression will not be exclusionary.
   2. Screening tools: SCID Screen Patient Questionnaire or M.I.N.I. Potential diagnoses will be further evaluated by a counselor.

8. History of myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke or transient ischemic attack, mitral valve prolapse, or any heart condition currently under medical care.

   1. Justifications: the risk of iTBS for individuals with a heart condition is unknown.
   2. Screening tool: physical assessment (EKG), medical history.

9. Pregnant or lactating women or women with reproductive potential who engage in heterosexual sex that may lead to pregnancy and not using a medically acceptable form of contraception (such as birth control pills, condoms, or a diaphragm with spermicide).

   1. Justification: it is unknown whether iTBS poses a risk to fetuses.
   2. Screening tool: Urine and/or serum pregnancy tests, and clinical interview.

10. Participation in any NIBS session (excluding the current protocol) less than two weeks ago. No NIBS exposure for treatment purposes in the last 6 months.

    1. Justification: in order to avoid possible carry-over effects from previous exposure to NIBS prior to participation in the proposed intervention, we will not enroll participants who have received any NIBS in the two weeks preceding enrollment or treatment with NIBS modality with the last 6 months preceding enrollment.
    2. Screening tool: TMS safety screen.

INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION - CLINICAL TRIAL (PHASE II):

The same inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used as in the Pilot with the exception of:

1. CD participants, and not HC participants, will meet current DSM-5 criteria for current moderate to severe substance (i.e., cocaine) use disorder and currently seeking treatment.
2. Justification: cocaine use disorder is the focus of this protocol.
3. Screening tool: Drug Use Survey and SCID Screen Patient Questionnaire or M.I.N.I. The interviewer will supplement SCID with questions to assess for DSM- 5 substance use disorders. Potential diagnoses will be further evaluated by a counselor.
4. Treatment seeking CD participants will be recruited.
5. Justification: The population of interest is CD dependent individuals motivated to reduce or eliminate their cocaine use.
6. Screening tools: Addiction Severity Index and Brief Cocaine Cessation Motivation Assessment.
7. HC participants will not currently meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe substance use disorder (excluding nicotine), and in the past, will not meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe substance use disorder for cannabis or alcohol in the past 5 years or ever for other illicit substances. HC will not meet current withdrawal criteria for alcohol or sedative/hypnotics/anxiolytics, or tolerance criteria in an individual using 3 or more days/week. Urine toxicology positive for any illicit substance inconsistent with history given will also be exclusionary.
8. Justification: The population of interest is a healthy control population with no substance use disorder. Current use of illicit substances or alcohol could impact on seizure threshold and is therefore contra-indicated for iTBS.
9. Screening tools: SCID Screen Patient Questionnaire (or similar tool for assessment of psychiatric disorders). The interviewer will supplement SCID with questions to assess for DSM-5 substance use disorders. Potential diagnoses will be further evaluated by a counsellor, Drug Use Survey (DUS), Substance Use Disorder Evaluation, Medical Assessments: urine qualitative drug screen is performed for cocaine, THC, benzo, morphine/opiates, MDMA, amphetamine /methamphetamine, methadone, buprenorphine, PCP, and oxycodone.
10. Participation in any NIBS session less than two weeks prior to admission (inclusing Pilot participants of this protocol who completed fewer than 5 iTBS treatment days but excluding ongoing participation in the Clinical Trial of the current protocol). No NIBS exposure for treatment purposes in the last 6 months.
11. Justification: in order to avoid possible carry-over effects from previous exposure to NIBS prior to participation in the proposed intervention, we will not enroll participants who have received any NIBS in the two weeks preceding enrollment or treatment with NIBS modality with the last 6 months preceding enrollment.
12. Screening tool: TMS safety screening questionnaire.

13. Cardiac pacemakers, neural stimulators, implantable defibrillator, implanted

    medication pumps, intracardiac lines, or acute, unstable cardiac disease, with intracranial implants (e.g. aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object in the body that precludes iTBS administration and MRI scanning.

14. Justification: Certain metal in the body is a contra-indication for iTBS administration and MRI scanning, as this method involves exposure to a relatively strong static magnetic field that can move magnetic material not securely bound and rapidly alternating magnetic fields that can generate heat and current in metal contained in the body.
15. Screening tool: MRI and TMS Safety screening questionnaires.

INCLUSION CRITERIA - TMS:

Participants must:

1. Be able to give valid inform...