Overview
This is a two-arm randomized placebo-controlled trial in which 72 patients with alcohol addiction are treated with high-dose accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (TBS).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- alchohol dependence according to ICD-10 (F10.2)
- desire to reduce or abstain from alcohol drinking
- male or female
- 18-65 years
- residency in Germany, German speaking
- written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- contraindications for transcranial magnetic stimulation (electric devices or metal parts in the body such as pacemaker)
- relevant neurological or internistic diseases according to study investigator
- treatment with TMS in the past
- participation in other trials during treatment
- pregnancy or breatfeeding
- positive breath test for alcohol
- legal care and placement in a psychiatric hospital
- co-medication with disulfiram, acamprosate, topiramate, baclofen, naltrexone, or nalmefene
- acute psychiatric comorbidity that requires inpatient treatment or medication readjustment (<1 month)
- severe chronic psychiatric illness (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder)
- patients who are unable to complete study questionnaires or follow-up questionnaires (in the opinion of the investigators)