Deep rTMS and Varenicline for Smoking Cessation

Summary

Participation Requirements

Description

This study will be a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. Nicotine dependent participants will be recruited and randomized tor receive either active or sham rTMS intervention for 4 weeks (5 sessions/week). All participants will receive an open-label treatment of varenicline for ...

This study will be a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. Nicotine dependent participants will be recruited and randomized tor receive either active or sham rTMS intervention for 4 weeks (5 sessions/week). All participants will receive an open-label treatment of varenicline for 12 weeks and weekly counselling sessions. The aims of the study are: To examine the efficacy of bilateral deep rTMS to the insula on point prevalence smoking abstinence in smokers receiving varenicline treatment. To examine the efficacy of bilateral deep rTMS to the insula on other smoking outcomes such as craving, cigarette smoking and dependence severity. To examine the effect of bilateral deep rTMS to the insula on abstinence at the end of rTMS treatment and at 6-month follow up. Abstinence will be measured by point prevalence at week 4 and 12 and continuous abstinence at week 26. This will be confirmed using plasma cotinine levels. All other measures will be done using various questionnaires such as Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB), Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS), and Tiffany Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (T-QSU).

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