SynthesisBMC psychiatry2018
Can deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) be used to treat substance use disorders (SUD)? A systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults with substance use disorder that have a co-occurring mental health disorder: an umbrella review and illustrative cost-effectiveness analysis.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2026Pooled it
- Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for schizophrenia: a systematic review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- The two-way relationship between nicotine and cortical activity: a systematic review of neurobiological and treatment aspects.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The Heart's Electromagnetic Field in Emotions, Empathy and Human Connection: Biosensor-Derived Insights into Heart-Brain Axis Mechanisms and a Basis for Novel BioMagnetoTherapies.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Non-invasive neurostimulation techniques for the treatment of stimulant use disorders.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Review
- Non-pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: analysis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.BMC medicine · 2023Review
- Effectiveness of Physiotherapy in Managing Symptomatology in Gambling Disorder Patients: A Systematic Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Tool to Promote Smoking Cessation and Decrease Drug and Alcohol Use.Brain sciences · 2023Review
- Clinical Efficacy of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Psychiatric and Cognitive Disorders: Protocol for a Systematic Review.JMIR research protocols · 2023Article
- The public impact of academic and print media portrayals of TMS: shining a spotlight on discrepancies in the literature.BMC medical ethics · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDeep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) is a non-invasive method of stimulating widespread cortical areas and, presumably, deeper neural networks. The current study assessed the effects of DTMS in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD) using a systematic review.
methodsElectronic literature search (PsycInfo, Medline until April 2017) identified k = 9 studies (k = 4 randomized-controlled trials, RCTs, with inactive sham and k = 5 open-label studies). DTMS was most commonly applied using high frequency/intensity (10-20 Hz/100-120% of the resting motor threshold, MT) protocols for 10-20 daily sessions in cases with alcohol, nicotine or cocaine use disorders. The outcome measures were craving and dependence (according to standardized scales) or consumption (frequency, abstinence or results of biological assays) at the end of the daily treatment phases and at the last follow-up.
resultsAcute and longer-term (6-12 months) reductions in alcohol craving were observed after 20 sessions (20 Hz, 120% MT) relative to baseline in k = 4 open-label studies with comorbid SUD and major depressive disorder (MDD). In k = 2 RCTs without MDD, alcohol consumption acutely decreased after 10-12 sessions (10-20 Hz, 100-120% MT) relative to baseline or to sham. Alcohol craving was reduced only after higher frequency/intensity DTMS (20 Hz, 120% MT) relative to sham in k = 1 RCT. Nicotine consumption was reduced and abstinence was increased after 13 sessions (10 Hz, 120% MT) and at the 6-month follow-up relative to sham in k = 1 RCT. Cocaine craving was reduced after 12 sessions (15 Hz, 100% MT) and at the 2-month follow-up relative to baseline in k = 1 open-label study while consumption was reduced after 12 sessions (10 Hz, 100% MT) relative to baseline but not to sham in k = 1 RCT.
conclusionsHigh-frequency DTMS may be effective at treating some SUD both acutely and in the longer-term. Large RCTs with inactive sham are required to determine the efficacy and the optimal stimulation parameters of DTMS for the treatment of SUD.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.