Methamphetamine AbuseNCT06292156
tACS Treatment for Cognitive Impairments in Methamphetamine Addicts
A study testing Theta treatment group in people with Methamphetamine Abuse, run by Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
1. To evaluate the cognitive function of methamphetamine Patients. 2. Investigate the pathological mechanism of methamphetamine patients from the aspects of EEG and biology; 3. The investigators investigated the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive impairments in methamphetamine… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 55 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Methamphetamine Abuse
- What is being tested?
- Theta treatment group
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 30 Dec 2023to 30 Dec 2024
- 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 55 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Clinical diagnosis diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
- None of participants had mixed use of other drugs
- None of participants had physical disability
- None of participants had acute physical or mental illness, hallucinations, acute withdrawal symptoms
- None of participants were receiving any medical treatment
Who cannot join
- Intracranial hypertension
- Cranial defects
- Tumors
- Serious physical illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal disorders)
- Infectious diseases
- Immune system disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
- To evaluate the cognitive function of methamphetamine Patients.
- Investigate the pathological mechanism of methamphetamine patients from the aspects of EEG and biology;
- The investigators investigated the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive impairments in methamphetamine patients
- Conditions
- Methamphetamine Abuse
- Being tested
- Theta treatment group, Sham control group
- Keywords
- Methamphetamine patients, Cognitive impairments, tACS
- Medical subject headings
- Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Theta treatment groupDevice
The target 'active' electrode was placed over the MFC and the second 'return' electrode was placed over the medial parietal cortex. 6 Hz stimulation was used and a alternating current of 2mA was applied for 30min each day(Monday-Friday) for 3consecutive weeks
Sham control groupDevice
Sham stimulation lasted 30 s (15 s of ramp- up and 15 s of ramp-down).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Theta treatment group | Experimental | In active tACS, the target 'active' electrode was placed over the MFC and the second 'return' electrode was placed over the medial parietal cortex. 6 Hz stimulation was used and a alternating current of 2mA was applied for 30min each day(Monday-Friday) for 3 consecutive weeks. Receives: Device: Theta treatment group |
| Sham control group | Sham comparator | In sham group, Sham stimulation lasted 30 s (15 s of ramp- up and 15 of ramp-down) . Receives: Device: Sham control group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), which contains 12 subtests for calculating the index scores of delayed memory (including list recall, story recall, figure recall, and list recognition tests), attention (including digit span and coding tests), language (including picture naming and semantic fluency tests), visuospatial/constructional index (including figure copy and line orientation tasks), immediate memory (including list learning and story memory tasks), and global neuropsychological function.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
ERP components associated with cognitive function
Investigate the ERP components associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using event-related potential analysis
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Condition stop signal task
Condition stop signal task was used to assess cognitive control function, including proactive control and reactive control.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Neural oscillations associated with cognitive function
Investigate the neural oscillations associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using time-frequency analysis.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Functional connection of brain region associated with cognitive function
Investigate the functional connection of brain region associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using functional connection analysis
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Microstate associated with cognitive function
Investigate the microstate associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using microstate analysis
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Neural Dynamic Coding of brain region associated with cognitive function
Investigate the functional connection of brain region associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using multivariate pattern analysis
Measured: baseline, week 3
The effect of oxidative stress system on cognitive function
The investigators examined markers of oxidative stress related to cognitive function using bioassay.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
The effect of immune system on cognitive function
The investigators immune indicators related to cognitive function using bioassay.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
The effect of brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) on cognitive function
The investigators BDNF indicators related to cognitive function using bioassay.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Genetic mechanism of cognitive function
The investigators performed comprehensive genetic testing to explore the genetic mechanism of cognitive function.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Secondary outcomes (16)
Reverse learning task
Reverse learning task was used to access the compulsive drug using behavior of methamphetamine patients.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Beck Depression Scale
Beck Depression Scale was used to access degree of depression.The total score varies between 0 and 30 points, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Barrett impulse Scale
The scale includes three dimensions: motor impulsivity, cognitive impulsivity and unplanned impulsivity. The total score varies between 30 and 150 points, with higher scores indicating higher levels of impulsivity. High scores on the three subscales indicated hyperactivity, inattention, and lack of planning, respectively.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Degree of insomnia
Insomnia Severity Index was used acess the patient's insomnia.The total score varies between 0 and 28 points, with higher scores indicating higher levels of insomnia.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
The Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire
The Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire including penalty sensitivity factor and reward sensitivity factor. The total score varies between 0 and 31 points, with higher scores indicating higher sensitivity to penalty and reward.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Visual analog scale
Visual analog scale（VAS） was used to acess the craving of drug on a scale of 1 to 10.A higher score indicates a higher desire for the drug
Measured: Baseline, week 3
The Desires for Drug Questionnaire
The Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) was used to access the craving of drug, which measures three factors, including desire and intention, negative reinforcement, and control. Higher scores of drug desire and negative reinforcement indicated higher drug craving, and higher scores of control indicated better drug craving control ability.The total score on the table is equal to the sum of the scores in the three dimensions, ranging from 3 to 21 points.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Obsessive compulsive drug use scale
The Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale (OCDUS) also measures three factors: thoughts about methamphetamine and interference, desire and control, and resistance to thoughts and intention.The higher the total score, the higher the craving. The total score varies between 13 and 65 points, with higher scores indicating higher craving.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Obsessive-compulsive inventory
Obsessive-compulsive inventory was evaluated the subjects' obsessive-compulsive symptoms from 6 different dimensions, including washing, forcing thoughts, storing, sorting, checking, mixing.The total score varies between 0 and 72 points, with higher scores indicating more severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Thought Control Ability Questionnaire
Thought Control Ability Questionnaire was used to measure the ability of an individual to control unwanted and intrusive thoughts. The total score varies between 25 and 125 points, with higher indicating scores the stronger the thought control ability.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Thought Suppression Questionnaire
Thought Suppression Questionnaire were used to access the thought control ability. The total score varies between 15 and 75 points, with higher indicating scores the stronger the thought suppression ability.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Rumination Questionnaire
Rumination Questionnaire was used to access ruminate behavior.A higher total score indicates a higher tendency to ruminate. The total score varies between 22 and 88 points, with higher scores indicating higher tendency to ruminate.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Anger Rumination Questionnaire
Anger Rumination Questionnaire was used to access anger ruminate behavior. The total score varies between 19 and 76 points, with higher scores indicating higher tendency to anger ruminate.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Beck Anxiety Scale
Beck Anxiety Scale was used to access degree of anxiety.The total score varies between 0 and 63 points, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Emotional Regulation Difficulty Scale
Emotional Regulation Difficulty Scale was used to access the emotional regulation ability of methamphetamine patients.The total score varies between 36 and 180 points, with higher scores indicating the more serious the difficulty in emotion regulation and the lower the level of emotion regulation ability.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Aggressive questionnair
Aggressive questionnaire was used to access aggressive behavior of methamphetamine patients. The total score varies between 30 and 150 points, with higher scores indicating the more aggressive behavior.
Measured: Baseline, week 3
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Mar 2024
- Study start30 Dec 2023
- Primary completion30 Dec 2024
- Study completion30 Dec 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Methamphetamine AbuseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Xiang Yang Zhang, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06292156
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CASPsy7
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 3 Dec 2023
- Last updated
- 19 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Data will be avaliable on request
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- tACS Treatment for Cognitive Impairments in Methamphetamine Addicts
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06292156
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CASPsy7
- Conditions
- Methamphetamine Abuse
- Keywords
- Methamphetamine patients, Cognitive impairments, tACS
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing HuiLongGuan HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Mar 2024 (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.
- To evaluate the cognitive function of methamphetamine Patients.
- Investigate the pathological mechanism of methamphetamine patients from the aspects of EEG and biology;
- The investigators investigated the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive impairments in methamphetamine patients
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Theta treatment group | Experimental | Device: Theta treatment groupIn active tACS, the target 'active' electrode was placed over the MFC and the second 'return' electrode was placed over the medial parietal cortex. 6 Hz stimulation was used and a alternating current of 2mA was applied for 30min each day(Monday-Friday) for 3 consecutive weeks. |
| Sham control group | Sham comparator | Device: Sham control groupIn sham group, Sham stimulation lasted 30 s (15 s of ramp- up and 15 of ramp-down) . |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 55 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
- None of participants had mixed use of other drugs
- None of participants had physical disability
- None of participants had acute physical or mental illness, hallucinations, acute withdrawal symptoms
- None of participants were receiving any medical treatment
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Intracranial hypertension
- Cranial defects
- Tumors
- Serious physical illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal disorders)
- Infectious diseases
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Theta treatment groupThe target 'active' electrode was placed over the MFC and the second 'return' electrode was placed over the medial parietal cortex. 6 Hz stimulation was used and a alternating current of 2mA was applied for 30min each day(Monday-Friday) for 3consecutive weeks | Device | Theta treatment group |
| Sham control groupSham stimulation lasted 30 s (15 s of ramp- up and 15 s of ramp-down). | Device | Sham control group |
Primary outcome
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), which contains 12 subtests for calculating the index scores of delayed memory (including list recall, story recall, figure recall, and list recognition tests), attention (including digit span and coding tests), language (including picture naming and semantic fluency tests), visuospatial/constructional index (including figure copy and line orientation tasks), immediate memory (including list learning and story memory tasks), and global neuropsychological function.
ERP components associated with cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Investigate the ERP components associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using event-related potential analysis
Condition stop signal task
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Condition stop signal task was used to assess cognitive control function, including proactive control and reactive control.
Neural oscillations associated with cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Investigate the neural oscillations associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using time-frequency analysis.
Functional connection of brain region associated with cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Investigate the functional connection of brain region associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using functional connection analysis
Microstate associated with cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Investigate the microstate associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using microstate analysis
Neural Dynamic Coding of brain region associated with cognitive function
Time frame: baseline, week 3
Investigate the functional connection of brain region associated with cognitive function of methamphetamine patients using multivariate pattern analysis
The effect of oxidative stress system on cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The investigators examined markers of oxidative stress related to cognitive function using bioassay.
The effect of immune system on cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The investigators immune indicators related to cognitive function using bioassay.
The effect of brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) on cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The investigators BDNF indicators related to cognitive function using bioassay.
Genetic mechanism of cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The investigators performed comprehensive genetic testing to explore the genetic mechanism of cognitive function.
16 secondary outcomes
Reverse learning task
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Beck Depression Scale
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Barrett impulse Scale
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Degree of insomnia
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Visual analog scale
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
The Desires for Drug Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Obsessive compulsive drug use scale
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Obsessive-compulsive inventory
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Thought Control Ability Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Thought Suppression Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Rumination Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Anger Rumination Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Beck Anxiety Scale
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Emotional Regulation Difficulty Scale
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
Aggressive questionnair
Time frame: Baseline, week 3
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 19 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Data will be avaliable on request
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Theta treatment group in people with Methamphetamine Abuse, run by Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital at 1 site in China.
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 5 inclusion and 6 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 19 Dec 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 China. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) (time frame: Baseline, week 3). The study lists 11 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 19 Dec 2025.