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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Alcohol Cravings
A new study finds transcranial magnetic stimulation may reduce alcohol cravings.
Key points
- Alcohol use disorder is a serious, destructive, and difficult-to-treat addiction.
- While medication and therapy are effective, additional tools are needed to help reduce or stop alcohol misuse.
- Alcohol cravings are a key target in treatment, reducing risk of relapse and amount of alcohol consumed.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or “TMS,” is an FDA-approved psychiatric treatment for major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with intriguing clinical trials suggesting future application in a variety of difficult-to-treat conditions, including PTSD (post- traumatic stress disorder), anxiety disorders, eating disorder, addictions, ADHD ( attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), sleep issues, and a range of other applications-all currently “off-label” for clinical use, and under research investigation. In recent posts, we’ve looked at rapid protocols for treating depression, known as “accelerated TMS,” as well as recent research directly comparing TMS with multiple medication trials and finding greater benefit from TMS than a series of medications [1]. Because TMS is generally…
