DBS for addictions V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Deep brain stimulation for disorders of addiction: mechanisms and a pilot blinded randomized cross-over placebo controlled trial
IRAS ID
316169
Contact name
Valerie Voon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN12345678
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Disorders of addiction like alcohol and opioid use disorder are major public health issues with marked morbidity, mortality and financial burden. Many remain refractory to treatment. Addiction disorders are characterized by abnormal brain networks. This study proposes to use a neurosurgical procedure, deep brain stimulation, designed to deliver stimulation to change brain networks, with longstanding established safety and therapeutic efficacy for movement disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Here we propose a deep brain stimulation study in treatment refractory alcohol and opioid use disorder which has shown efficacy in pilot trials.
This proposal focuses on theoretical mechanisms underlying addictions recording directly from deep brain structures and the ability to modify core addiction processes. We assess the neurophysiology of incentive cues and negative emotionality underlying cue- and stress-induced relapse. We track these process over the course of abstinence and link them with other core addiction cognitive processes including impulse control and behavioural flexibility. We ask how these processes are influenced by key neurochemicals relevant to addictions. Critically, we then ask how stimulation treatment might influence neurophysiology, networks and behaviour with the goal to identify stimulation- responsive specific biomarkers. This leads us towards the development of closed-loop responsive neurostimulation in the treatment of a relapsing remitting illness. We further assess the potential therapeutic efficacy of deep brain stimulation for addiction in a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Together these studies provide novel direct mechanistic insights of core theoretical mechanisms of addictions in the living human brain with immediate therapeutic impact leading to the emerging potential for precise responsive neuromodulation.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0110
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion