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NCT02927236

Theta-Burst Stimulation as a Treatment for Reducing Cocaine Use

Terminated NA Results posted Last updated 25 February 2025
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in Cocaine Use Disorder in 45 participants. Terminated before completion.

Timeline
13 February 2017
Primary endpoint
30 October 2023
30 October 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsorNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
PhaseNA
StatusTerminated
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingtriple
Primary purposebasic science
Enrollment45
Start date13 February 2017
Primary completion30 October 2023
Estimated completion30 October 2023
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Who can join

Adults 22 to 60, any sex, with Cocaine Use Disorder or Cocaine Dependence. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Number of Cocaine Dependent Participants Who Tolerated Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Sessions Primary · Up to 10 days of treatment

Number of cocaine dependent participants who tolerated the intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) treatment. Participants in the pilot group had a maximum of 2 weeks and participants in the EFS group had a maximum of three weeks to complete the 10 days of treatment.

GroupValue95% CI
Pilot Group9
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Active Group1
Change in Brain Global Efficiency After Day One of Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Treatment (Acute Effect) Primary · pre/post treatment day 1.

Participants received resting brain fMRI scan followed by three iTBS sessions then a second brain fMRI scan. Analysis was done to determine if iTBS alters brain networks and calculated as the difference between global efficiency (GE) before and after the first day of iTBS (pre-post). Global efficiency is a graph-theory measure that indicates how well information can be transferred across the entire brain network. A high global efficiency indicates that information can be rapidly transmitted across different brain regions due to short average path lengths between them, suggesting a well-connect

GroupValue95% CI
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Active Group-0.03716097± 0
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Sham Group0.004610517± 0.003557275
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Healthy Control - Active Treatment-.01535± 0.032982662
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Healthy Control - Sham Treatment-0.008708172± 0.021423157
Change in Brain Global Efficiency After Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Treatment (iTBS) Course (Chronic Effect) Primary · Baseline (pre-treatment) minus two weeks post treatment

Participants received baseline resting brain fMRI scan on day one and had a repeat brain fMRI two weeks after iTBS treatment course. Analysis was done to determine change in brain network with chronic treatment in cocaine dependent participants and calculated as the difference between global efficiency (GE) from baseline to post treatment (2 weeks after end of treatment). Global efficiency is a graph-theory measure that indicates how well information can be transferred across the entire brain network. A high global efficiency indicates that information can be rapidly transmitted across differe

GroupValue95% CI
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Active Group-0.009259302± 0
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Sham Group-0.021988865± 0.009881832
Brain Global Efficiency Before Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Treatment (iTBS) Primary · Baseline (pre-treatment)

The brain global efficiency for cocaine dependent participants and healthy control participants at baseline (pre-treatment), prior to intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Treatment (iTBS). Global efficiency is a graph-theory measure that indicates how well information can be transferred across the entire brain network. A high global efficiency indicates that information can be rapidly transmitted across different brain regions due to short average path lengths between them, suggesting a well-connected and integrated brain network. It is calculated by defining N nodes and calculating the shorte

GroupValue95% CI
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine Dependent Participants0.370168044± 0.070814395
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Healthy Control0.328063781± 0.035358035

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: Participants in the pilot phase were followed for 6 weeks. Cocaine dependent participants in the Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS) phase were followed for 6 months. Control participants in the EFS phase were participated for about two weeks.. Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Pilot Group
Serious: 0/19 (0%)
Deaths: 0/19
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Active Group
Serious: 0/4 (0%)
Deaths: 0/4
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Cocaine - Sham Group
Serious: 0/3 (0%)
Deaths: 0/3
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Healthy Control - Active Treatment Intervention
Serious: 0/19 (0%)
Deaths: 0/19
Expanded Feasibility Study (EFS): Healthy Control - Sham Treatment Intervention
Serious: 0/19 (0%)
Deaths: 0/19
Other adverse events (17 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemPilot GroupExpanded Feasibility Study…Expanded Feasibility Study…Expanded Feasibility Study…Expanded Feasibility Study…
headacheNervous system disorders
back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
muscle achesMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
tooth and ear painGastrointestinal disorders
eye painEye disorders
Nervous system- otherNervous system disorders
Urine discolorationRenal and urinary disorders
eczemaSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Nervous system- otherNervous system disorders
tactile hallucinationsPsychiatric disorders
scalp painSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
hang nail bleedingSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
COPD exacerbationRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
arthritisMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
memory lossPsychiatric disorders
nausea and vomitingGastrointestinal disorders
tremorNervous system disorders

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02927236 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

Objective: The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the tolerability of an accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, intervention in participants with cocaine use disorder and then to determine if the intervention changes brain circuits related to cocaine use disorder and whether these changes relate to clinical outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can individuals with cocaine use disorder tolerate accelerated iTBS (3 treatments per day for 10 days) (Pilot study)? * Does iTBS (compared to sham iTBS) alter brain circuits related to cocaine use disorder (Expanded feasibility study)? Researchers will compare individuals with cocaine use disorder to those without cocaine use disorder to identify differences at baseline, compare effects of the first day of iTBS treatment, and see if changes after treatment align brain circuits in those with cocaine use disorder more closely to patterns seen in those without cocaine use disorder. Participants will: * Undergo 10 days of iTBS treatment and two follow-up visits (1 week and 4 weeks after treatment) and complete questionnaires throughout to assess tolerability and drug use (Pilot study). * Participants with cocaine use disorder will complete a characterization phase with questionnaires, two fMRI scans and a trial session of iTBS (sham or active) before the treatment phase (Expanded feasibility study).

Publications & conference data

2 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Accelerated Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation as a Treatment for Cocaine Use Disorder: A Proof-of-Concept Study.
    Steele VR, Maxwell AM, Ross TJ, Stein EA, et al · · 2019 · cited 41× · PMID 31736689 · DOI 10.3389/fnins.2019.01147
  2. Case report: Tremor in the placebo condition of a blinded clinical trial of intermittent theta-burst stimulation for cocaine use disorder.
    Steele VR, Rotenberg A, Philip NS, Hallett M, et al · · 2024 · cited 1× · PMID 39045554 · DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1391771

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Cocaine Use Disorder

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

Verify against primary sources

Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT02927236.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing