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Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Smoking Cessation in People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Hiv
Tobacco Smoking
Interventions
Device: TBS
Device: Sham TMS
Registration Number
NCT05295953
Lead Sponsor
Gopalkumar Rakesh
Brief Summary

To demonstrate whether four sessions of TBS improves attentional bias and craving in PLWHA smokers compared to four sessions of sham stimulation. We hypothesize 4 sessions of TBS to the left DLPFC will significantly improve attentional bias and craving for smoking cues compared to neutral cues in a population of subjects who are smokers with HIV/AIDS compared to sham stimulation.

Detailed Description

The proposed pilot study seeks to explore modulation of attentional bias and tobacco craving in PLWHA with one session of adequately dosed theta burst stimulation (TBS). Results of this trial will spur clinical research to further investigate the use of TBS as an adjunctive smoking cessation aid for PLWHA and could have broad implications for smoking cessation programs. Data obtained from this pilot study will also facilitate resubmission of a grant application examining adjunctive theta burst stimulation (TBS) combined with varenicline for smoking cessation in PLWHA. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) smoke at nearly three times the rate of the general population. These extraordinary smoking rates are associated with greater AIDS-related morbidity, non-AIDS related morbidity including non-AIDS-defining cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and mortality. Smoking significantly impacts the progression and outcome of HIV disease and has been identified as the leading contributor to premature mortality in PLWHA. One study estimated PLWHA lose more years from smoking than from HIV infection. In our view, shared by others in the field, the single greatest health behavior change that could improve mortality is to assist smokers living with HIV/AIDS to quit smoking.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
4
Inclusion Criteria

Potential participants will be

  • Patients enrolled in the Bluegrass Clinic
  • 18-60 years of age
  • Male or female gender
  • Able to read, understand and communicate in English
  • Willing to adhere to the general rules of the Bluegrass Clinic/SMARTClinic/Beyond Birth Clinic
  • Willing and able to abstain from drug use other than Suboxone
  • Exhaled breath on day of study carbon monoxide (CO) < 5 ppm
  • Stabilized on maintenance buprenorphine if having comorbid opioid use disorder.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Positive pregnancy test for females, traumatic brain injury, history of seizure disorder, history of or current diagnosis of schizophrenia, intracranial metal shrapnel.
  • Previous adverse effect with TMS.
  • Sub-threshold consistency while performing behavioral tasks.
  • Failure to show baseline attentional bias to smoking versus neutral cues.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
TBS (Theta burst stimulation)TBSFour sessions of TBS in one day
Sham TMSSham TMSFour sessions of sham TMS
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Gaze Fixation on Smoking CuesOn Day 1 of the study after intervention

Measured using an eye tracker which quantifies this in milliseconds, higher score means worse outcome

Craving for cigarettesImmediately after intervention (sessions of TBS or sham TMS) on day 1

Measured using tobacco craving questionnaire (TCQ), this questionnaire has 12 items. Max score is 48, min score is 0. Higher score means that craving is higher.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Functional connectivity changesImmediately after intervention (sessions of TBS or sham TMS) on day 1

Changes in functional connectivity measured using z score on functional MRI brain scan.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of Kentucky

🇺🇸

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

245 Fountain Court

🇺🇸

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

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