| Trial ID | NCT04871048 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Condition | Schizophrenia |
| Intervention | Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) active |
Cannabis use disorder affects up to 40% of patients with schizophrenia, yet standard addiction treatments show limited efficacy in this vulnerable population. This trial addresses a critical therapeutic gap where dual diagnosis patients often experience worsened psychotic symptoms and medication non-adherence.
This randomized controlled trial is recruiting 110 patients with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder to receive 10 sessions of targeted transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The intervention applies anodal stimulation to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cathodal stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex, targeting brain regions involved in executive control and reward processing. Primary endpoints include cannabis consumption reduction, with secondary measures of craving intensity, addiction severity, psychotic symptoms, and global functioning.
“If successful, this non-invasive neuromodulation approach could provide a much-needed adjunctive treatment for patients where traditional addiction therapies have fallen short. The targeted stimulation protocol represents a sophisticated understanding of the neurobiological overlap between addiction and psychotic disorders.”
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FAQ
Who is this tDCS trial for cannabis use disorder enrolling?
The trial plans to enroll 110 patients who have both schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder. It is designed as a randomized controlled trial and is registered under the trial ID NCT04871048. The summary does not list further eligibility details.
What does the tDCS treatment involve in this trial?
Participants receive 10 sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation. The protocol applies anodal stimulation to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cathodal stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex, targeting brain regions involved in executive control and reward processing.
What outcomes will the tDCS trial measure?
The primary endpoint is a reduction in cannabis consumption. Secondary measures are craving intensity, addiction severity, psychotic symptoms and global functioning. Together these cover cannabis use itself, related addiction features, and the psychotic symptoms and functioning of participants.
Has this trial shown that tDCS reduces cannabis use?
Not yet. The trial’s status is listed as recruiting, and no results are reported. Until results are available, whether tDCS reduces cannabis use in people with schizophrenia remains an open question that this trial is designed to address.
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