Cannabis Use DisorderNCT05292547
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to People With Cannabis Use Disorder (SToP-C-rTMS x CUD)
A study testing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with Cannabis Use Disorder and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This study is to explore if repetitive transcrinal magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with different stimulation schedules will be equally effective in reducing carving, frequency of cannabis use, and the severity of cannabis use disorder in participants suffering from cannabis use disorder (CUD). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cannabis Use Disorder, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- What is being tested?
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2022to 31 Mar 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Able to read and communicate in English and/or Chinese SToP-C-rTMS x CUD
- Able to give informed consent
- Using cannabis or marijuana as the primary psychoactive substance of abuse
- Diagnosed with Cannabis Use Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5) by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5)
Who cannot join
- Age <18 years old
- Unable to read English or Chinese
- Unable to give informed consent
- Had been diagnosed with the following disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders, DSM-5 defined substance use disorder greater than moderate in severity, and neurocognitive disorders
- Contra-indicated to have rTMS, including subjects with electronic and/or magnetic implants (e.g. pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD], cerebral shunts, cochlear implant, etc.), with metallic or mechanic fragments (e.g., screws, plates, stents, clips, etc.), pregnant, with any known or history of neurological conditions including cerebral vascular accidents, epilepsy, brain tumor or space occupying lesion, poorly controlled or unstable diabetes mellitus, and receiving unstable dose(s) of antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and/or anticonvulsants in the past 6 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Substance Misuse To Psychiatric Disorders-Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to People With Cannabis Use Disorder
This study is to explore if repetitive transcrinal magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with different stimulation schedules will be equally effective in reducing carving, frequency of cannabis use, and the severity of cannabis use disorder in participants suffering from cannabis use disorder (CUD).
The investigators assume the hypotheses as:
- Multiple rTMS sessions can reduce craving for cannabis, severity of CUD, frequency and amount of cannabis use.
- Different rTMS treatment schedules have differences in reducing the craving for cannabis and severity of CUD, and prolonging relapse of cannabis use.
- Being tested
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Keywords
- Cannabis, TMS
- Medical subject headings
- Marijuana Abuse
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic StimulationDevice
rTMS using Magventure TMS system is delivered at the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of consented subjects according to 3 different stimulation schedules.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 | Active comparator | Subjects receive 20 rTMS sessions in 2 weeks Receives: Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
| Arm 2 | Active comparator | Subjects receive 20 rTMS sessions in 4 weeks Receives: Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
| Arm 3 | Active comparator | Subjects receive 20 rTMS sessions in 5 weeks Receives: Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
A change in amount of cannabis use
Subject's self-report on the amount of cannabis use (in terms of number of joints per day) at baseline to the amount of use at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
A change in frequency of Cannabis Use
Subject's self-repot on the frequency of cannabis use (in terms of number of times of use per day and/or per week) at baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
Severity of Cannabis Use Disorder
A change in severity of cannabis use disorder measured by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) with severity ranges from 0 to 11 (maximum severity) from baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
Severity of Dependence
A change in scorings measured by the Severity of Dependence Scale (ranges from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 20) from baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
Craving
A change in scorings measured by Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (ranges from a minimum of 17 to a maximum of 119) from baseline to to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Level of Anxiety
A change in severity of anxiety measured by Beck Anxiety Inventory (with a score from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 63) at baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
Level of Depression
A change in severity of depression measured by Beck Depression Inventory (with a score from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 63) at baseline to that at at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Measured: 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Mar 2022
- Study start1 Sep 2022
- Primary completion31 Mar 2025
- Study completion31 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cannabis Use DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Albert KK Chung, MBBS, Principal investigator, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05292547
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UW21-656
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 13 Mar 2022
- Last updated
- 8 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Chung AKK, Tang SW, Tse CY, Dong YD, Law JKC, Leung W. High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is associated with sustained improvement in cannabis use disorder: a one-year, two-phase, three-arm randomized study. Front Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 30;17:1757627. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1757627. eCollection 2026.
PubMed 41983248
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Substance Misuse To Psychiatric Disorders-Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to People With Cannabis Use Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05292547
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UW21-656
- Keywords
- Cannabis, TMS
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is to explore if repetitive transcrinal magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with different stimulation schedules will be equally effective in reducing carving, frequency of cannabis use, and the severity of cannabis use disorder in participants suffering from cannabis use disorder (CUD).
The investigators assume the hypotheses as:
- Multiple rTMS sessions can reduce craving for cannabis, severity of CUD, frequency and amount of cannabis use.
- Different rTMS treatment schedules have differences in reducing the craving for cannabis and severity of CUD, and prolonging relapse of cannabis use.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 | Active comparator | Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic StimulationSubjects receive 20 rTMS sessions in 2 weeks |
| Arm 2 | Active comparator | Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic StimulationSubjects receive 20 rTMS sessions in 4 weeks |
| Arm 3 | Active comparator | Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic StimulationSubjects receive 20 rTMS sessions in 5 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Able to read and communicate in English and/or Chinese SToP-C-rTMS x CUD
- Able to give informed consent
- Using cannabis or marijuana as the primary psychoactive substance of abuse
- Diagnosed with Cannabis Use Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5) by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5)
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age <18 years old
- Unable to read English or Chinese
- Unable to give informed consent
- Had been diagnosed with the following disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders, DSM-5 defined substance use disorder greater than moderate in severity, and neurocognitive disorders
- Contra-indicated to have rTMS, including subjects with electronic and/or magnetic implants (e.g. pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD], cerebral shunts, cochlear implant, etc.), with metallic or mechanic fragments (e.g., screws, plates, stents, clips, etc.), pregnant, with any known or history of neurological conditions including cerebral vascular accidents, epilepsy, brain tumor or space occupying lesion, poorly controlled or unstable diabetes mellitus, and receiving unstable dose(s) of antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and/or anticonvulsants in the past 6 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic StimulationrTMS using Magventure TMS system is delivered at the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of consented subjects according to 3 different stimulation schedules. | Device | Arm 1, Arm 2, Arm 3 |
Primary outcome
A change in amount of cannabis use
Time frame: 12 months
Subject's self-report on the amount of cannabis use (in terms of number of joints per day) at baseline to the amount of use at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
A change in frequency of Cannabis Use
Time frame: 12 months
Subject's self-repot on the frequency of cannabis use (in terms of number of times of use per day and/or per week) at baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Severity of Cannabis Use Disorder
Time frame: 12 months
A change in severity of cannabis use disorder measured by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) with severity ranges from 0 to 11 (maximum severity) from baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Severity of Dependence
Time frame: 12 months
A change in scorings measured by the Severity of Dependence Scale (ranges from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 20) from baseline to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
Craving
Time frame: 12 months
A change in scorings measured by Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (ranges from a minimum of 17 to a maximum of 119) from baseline to to that at 2nd week, 4th week, 5th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12-month post-treatment with rTMS
2 secondary outcomes
Level of Anxiety
Time frame: 12 months
Level of Depression
Time frame: 12 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jul 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41983248Chung AKK, Tang SW, Tse CY, Dong YD, Law JKC, Leung W. High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is associated with sustained improvement in cannabis use disorder: a one-year, two-phase, three-arm randomized study. Front Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 30;17:1757627. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1757627. eCollection 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Albert KK Chung, MBBS principal investigator
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with Cannabis Use Disorder and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
A change in amount of cannabis use (time frame: 12 months). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05292547, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jul 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.