Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with alcohol cue inhibitory control training reduces the risk of early alcohol relapse: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

• DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.10.386
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22T06:35:02Z
• Authors: Macha Dubuson; Charles Kornreich; Marie-Anne Vander...; Chris Baeken; Florent Wyckmans; Clémence Dousset; Catherine Hanak; Johannes Veeser; Salvatore Campanella; Armand Chatard; Nemat Jaafari; Xavier Noël
• Keywords: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Relapse prevention; Cue reactivity; Alcohol Dependence

BackgroundApproximately half of all people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) relapse into reuse in the next few weeks after a withdrawal treatment. Brain stimulation and cognitive training represent recent forms complementary interventions context AUD.ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical efficacy five sessions 2 mA bilateral transcranial direct current (tDCS) for 20 min over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (left cathodal/right anodal) combined cue inhibitory control (ICT) as part rehabilitation. The secondary outcomes were executive functioning (e.g. response inhibition) craving intensity, two mechanisms strongly related to abstinence.MethodsA randomized trial patients (n = 125) severe AUD at treatment unit. Each patient was randomly assigned one four conditions, [verum vs. sham tDCS] x [alcohol neutral ICT] factorial design. main outcome abstinence rate or more (up year).ResultsVerum tDCS improved 2-week follow-up compared condition, independently condition (79.7% [95% CI 69.8–89.6] 60.7% 48.3–73.1]; p .02). A priori contrasts analyses revealed higher rates verum associated ICT (86.1% [31/36; 95% 74.6–97.6]) than other three conditions (64% [57/89; 54–74]). These positive effects on did not persist beyond intervention. Neither reduction nor improvement resulted specifically from prefrontal-tDCS ICT.ConclusionsAUD who received applied DLPFC showed significantly during following When specific ICT, brain may provide better outcomes.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03447054 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03447054.