Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Phase 1

Recruiting

• Conditions: Methamphetamine Use Disorder
• Interventions: Device: Experimental 2 - DBS of bilateral NAc - 6 months of sham stimulation -- > 6 months of active stimulation; Device: Experimental 1 - DBS of bilateral NAc - 6 months of active stimulation -- > 6 months of sham stimulation

• Registration Number: NCT05558358
• Lead Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Brief Summary

We will evaluate the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of bilateral nucleus accumbens (NAc) added to background treatment for treatment refractory Methamphetamine Use Disorder (MUD). This is a small randomized cross-over study to demonstrate feasibility and safety, test treatment outcomes (use, craving), and identify novel biological targets (NAc local field potentials (LFP) and functional MRI).

Detailed Description

In a randomized cross-over design of DBS of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) for treatment refractory methamphetamine use disorder (MUD, n=5), we will test safety, feasibility, effect on clinical outcomes (craving and use), and seek to identify biological targets (using cue craving during recording of local field potentials and MRI).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-09-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-09-23
• Study First Posted: 2022-09-28
• Study Start: 2024-01-15
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-29
• Last Update Posted: 2024-03-04
• Primary Completion: 2025-02-01
• Study Completion: 2025-02-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 5

Inclusion Criteria

Adults (men and non-pregnant or nursing women) between 22-65 years of age will be eligible for enrollment, if meeting the following criteria:

1. Current diagnosis of DSM-5 MUD (with past year specifier of severe and at least a 5-year history);
2. Failed at least 2 prior treatment episodes (defined as outpatient or inpatient, utilizing a previously validated psychosocial treatment for addiction such as cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, motivational interviewing (Stuart et al., 2019) and not counting episodes with only detoxification) for MUD, with at least 1 episode having been residential;
3. Provides a urine drug screen positive for mAMP;
4. Endorses at least 10 days of mAMP use in the past month;
5. Able to complete 1 week of inpatient detoxification prior to surgery and 4 weeks of inpatient treatment following surgery;
6. No change in current psychiatric medication regimen, or medication free, for at least 4 weeks prior to entry;
7. Able to provide informed consent;
8. Able to comply with all testing and follow-up requirements as defined by study protocol (including providing a home address and two local collateral contacts);
9. Medically able to undergo DBS procedure as assessed by Study Neurosurgeon;
10. Has platelet count, PT and PTT within normal laboratory limits;
11. Adequate English proficiency for study consent, and completion of the study instruments;
12. Reside in the state of Colorado.

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Exclusion Criteria

1. Lifetime non-substance-induced psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder defined by DSM-5;
2. Current diagnosis of DSM-5 drug use disorder other than stimulant, alcohol, cannabis or nicotine use disorder;
3. Non-substance-induced manic episode within the past 3 years or major depressive episode in the past year;
4. Current clinically significant neurological disorder or medical illness;
5. Presence of a clinically significant abnormality on preoperative MRI;
6. Inability to have an MRI;
7. Inability to undergo general anesthesia required for tunneling of extension cable and placement of the batteries;
8. Pregnancy or lack of use of effective contraception in women of childbearing age, as assessed by urine pregnancy test and self-report (participants will consent to continue effective contraceptives during the study);
9. Coagulopathy, as determined by PT, PTT, platelet count, and medical history;
10. History of recurrent infections;
11. Inability to adhere to the requirements of the study;
12. Imminent risk of suicide as determined by Study Psychiatrist's assessment and investigators' clinical judgment or past-year suicide attempt, any positive response on baseline Columbia Suicide Severity Scale or history of parental completed suicide;
13. Active criminal justice involvement (i.e., any unresolved legal problems that could jeopardize continuation or completion of the study);
14. History of head injury with loss of consciousness for more than 15 minutes, neurological illness (including primary seizure disorder);
15. Diagnosis of dementia;
16. Conditions requiring diathermy.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
2	Experimental 2 - DBS of bilateral NAc - 6 months of sham stimulation -- > 6 months of active stimulation	Randomized sham-controlled crossover design - participants have baseline assessments/evaluation, 1 week detoxification, surgery, 30 days residential care, then begin DBS stimulation, 12 weeks IOP/CM and are followed for 52 weeks.
1	Experimental 1 - DBS of bilateral NAc - 6 months of active stimulation -- > 6 months of sham stimulation	Randomized sham-controlled crossover design - participants have baseline assessments/evaluation, 1 week detoxification, surgery, 30 days residential care, then begin DBS stimulation, 12 weeks IOP/CM and are followed for 52 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Incidence of study-emergent adverse events	56 weeks	Participants will be closely monitored for adverse events throughout the study including regular meetings with study staff and administration of the COMBINE SAFTEE during each programming session.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Delay Discounting	56 weeks	The MCQ, measured at baseline, week 30 and week 56, is a 27 item self administered questionnaire that examines delay discounting and can be hand scored using available tables. We will use the mean of the k at indifference between 2 questions that reflect a change between choosing a delayed vs. immediate reward.
Methamphetamine use	Measured during weeks 26-30 and weeks 52-56 (last month on stimulation and sham)	Operationalized as the number of days methamphetamine is used in the final month of sham vs. final month of active stimulation.
MRI	56 weeks	Resting state MRI data will be collected at baseline, week 30 and week 56
Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Approach System (BIS/BAS)	56 weeks	BIS/BAS will be collected at baseline, week 30 and week 56 Behavioral inhibition system score, assessing tendency to withdraw from aversive conditioned stimuli, and a behavioral activation score assessing tendency to approach appetitive stimuli.; This is a 24-item scale with all items rated on a 4 point scale. With appropriate reverse scoring, this will be used to create BIS score (items 2, 8, 13, 16, 19, 22, 24), BAS Drive (items 3, 9, 12, 21), BAS Fun Seeking (5, 10, 15, 20) and BAS Reward Responsiveness (items 4, 7, 14, 18, 23) scores.
Impulsiveness	56 weeks	Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) will be collected at baseline, week 30 and week 56 This 30 item measure questionnaire (using a 1-4 scale for each item) generates a total score, along with Attentional, Motor and Nonplanning second order factors.
Sensation seeking	56 weeks	This 40-item questionnaire, measured at baseline, week 30 and week 56, provides, with appropriate reverse scoring, a total score (items 1-40), and 4 subscales: Disinhibition (1, 12, 13, 25, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36), Boredom Susceptibility (2, 5, 7, 8, 15, 24, 27, 31, 34, 39), Thrill and Adventure Seeking (3, 11, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 28, 38, 40) and Experience Seeking (4, 6, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19, 22, 26, 37).
Anhedonia	56 weeks	The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, measured at baseline, week 30 and week 56, is a 14 item questionnaire (all rated on a 4 point Likert scale) and covers four domains of hedonic experience (interest/pastimes, social interaction, sensory experience and food/drink). With appropriate reverse scoring, we will use total score.
Risk taking	56 weeks	Balloon Analog Risk Task (measured at baseline, week 30 and week 56) We will utilize the average number of pumps on un-popped balloons and mean balloons popped.
Local Field Potential	baseline through week 56	Electrophysiologic data - three types of LFP data that will be collected: (a.1) BrainSense™ Streaming assessed in the laboratory during the cue-craving task at baseline, 6, and 12 months; (a.2) BrainSense™ Events will be triggered by the participant using the patient programmer when he/she experiences craving; (a.3) BrainSense™Timeline records 10 minute averages of power spectral data within a 5 Hz window throughout the 12 month UG3 trial.
Methamphetamine craving	Comparing weeks 26-30 and weeks 52-56	Measured weekly using the Stimulant Craving Questionnaire-Brief where each item is scored 0-6 (from Strongly Disagree=0 to Strongly Agree=6) with items #4 and #7 reverse scored. We will average all 10 items as the total score, with higher scores indicating greater levels of craving in the final month of sham vs. final month of active stimulation.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; 🇺🇸 Aurora, Colorado, United States