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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05005013

A Teleheath tDCS Approach to Decrease Cannabis Use

The study aims to evaluate the effect of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in decreasing distress and cannabis use. 46 participants with Relapse Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) and elevated distress (K10 score of 10-35) will be recruited.

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Key information

Conditions

Cannabis Use Disorder Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Immune System Diseases Multiple Sclerosis Nervous System Diseases

Age range

21 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

NYU Langone Health

New York, 10017, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Ages 21-65 (inclusive)
  • Seeking treatment to reduce or discontinue current cannabis use (smoke/vape/ingest)
  • Current Cannabis Use Disorder per DSM-V (MINI for DSM-V)
  • K10 score 10-35, inclusive (mild to high moderate distress)
  • Definite MS diagnosis, relapsing remitting (RRMS) subtype
  • PDDS score 0-7 (mild to moderate neurological disability, established to be able to complete procedures)
  • All medications stable for ≥ 1 month prior to enrollment and throughout the trial
  • Ability to understand the informed consent process and provide consent to participate in the study
  • Stable and continuous access to internet service, email (WiFi "hotspot" to be provided if needed)
  • Ability to use mobile devices
  • Fluent in English language (due to outcomes validated in English versions only)
  • WRAT-4 score ≥ 85

Exclusion criteria

  • MS clinical relapse or use of high dose of steroids in the past month
  • Patients under medical marijuana use prescribed by a clinician
  • Alcohol, tobacco, or substance use disorder other than cannabis
  • Primary neurologic, psychiatric or other medical disorder other than MS (entry MD screening)
  • Currently meets DSM-V criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder in the past 6 months for any psychoactive substance.
  • Meets DSM-V criteria for current panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, dissociate disorders, and any other psychotic disorder or organic mental disorder
  • Current suicidal ideation or deemed to be of potential risk of self-injury
  • History of traumatic brain injury
  • Seizure disorder or recent (<5 years) seizure history
  • Metal implants in the head or neck
  • Enrolled in group or individual therapy for substance use disorder concurrent to intervention
  • Any skin disorder or skin sensitive area near stimulation locations
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding

Treatment and study plan

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Other

tDCS is noninvasive brain stimulation device that modulates brain activity by delivering a low-intensity electrical current (2.0 mA) through sponge electrodes placed on the scalp.

Sham - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Other

The tDCS device is programmed to mimic active tDCS.

Mindfulness

Other

Participants will follow an audio track for guided mindfulness during the stimulation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Score

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    K10 is a 10-item questionnaire intended to yield a global measure of distress based on questions about anxiety and depressive symptoms that a person has experienced in the most recent 4 week period. Each question is given a score between 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). The total score ranges from 10 to 50. People with scores < 20 are likely to be well, 20-24 are likely to have a mild mental disorder, 25-29 are likely to have moderate mental disorder, and > 30 are likely to have a severe mental disorder.

  2. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Positive Affect (PANAS-PA)

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    The PA subscale includes 10 items describing positive mood states (e.g., "enthusiastic," "interested," "proud"), each rated on a Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores indicate greater levels of positive affect, reflecting an individual's engagement, energy, and pleasurable involvement with the environment.

  3. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Negative Affect (PANAS-NA)

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    The NA subscale consists of 10 items representing negative mood states (e.g., "upset," "nervous," "hostile"), each rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores reflect greater levels of negative affect, capturing distress and unpleasurable engagement with the environment.

  4. Change in Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ-17) Score

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    MCQ is a standardized measure assessing marijuana craving. Each statement is scored on a 7 point likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree).

    Questions 1-7 measure compulsivity. Questions 8-11 measure emotionality. Questions 12-15 measure expectations. Questions 16-17 measure purposefulness. The total score is the average response score and ranges from 1-7; higher scored indicate greater levels of marijuana craving.

  5. Change in Cannabis Withdrawal Scale (CWS) Score

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    The version of CWS used in the study asks about symptoms experienced over the last 24 hours and consists of 19 statements. For each statement, its negative impact on normal daily activities is rated on a likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 190; higher scores indicate that symptoms are having a larger negative impact on normal daily activities.

  6. Change in Number of Weekly Sessions of Cannabis Use

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    Self-reported measure.

  7. Change in Number of Monthly Sessions of Cannabis Use

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Week 4)

    Self-reported measure.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Score

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    K10 is a 10-item questionnaire intended to yield a global measure of distress based on questions about anxiety and depressive symptoms that a person has experienced in the most recent 4 week period. Each question is given a score between 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). The total score ranges from 10 to 50. People with scores < 20 are likely to be well, 20-24 are likely to have a mild mental disorder, 25-29 are likely to have moderate mental disorder, and > 30 are likely to have a severe mental disorder.

  2. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Positive Affect (PANAS-PA)

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    The PA subscale includes 10 items describing positive mood states (e.g., "enthusiastic," "interested," "proud"), each rated on a Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores indicate greater levels of positive affect, reflecting an individual's engagement, energy, and pleasurable involvement with the environment.

  3. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Score - Negative Affect (PANAS-NA)

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    The NA subscale consists of 10 items representing negative mood states (e.g., "upset," "nervous," "hostile"), each rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("very slightly or not at all") to 5 ("extremely"). The total score ranges from 5-50; higher scores reflect greater levels of negative affect, capturing distress and unpleasurable engagement with the environment.

  4. Change in Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ-17) Score

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    MCQ is a standardized measure assessing marijuana craving. Each statement is scored on a 7 point likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree).

    Questions 1-7 measure compulsivity. Questions 8-11 measure emotionality. Questions 12-15 measure expectations. Questions 16-17 measure purposefulness. The total score is the average response score and ranges from 1-7; higher scored indicate greater levels of marijuana craving.

  5. Change in Cannabis Withdrawal Scale (CWS) Score

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    The version of CWS used in the study asks about symptoms experienced over the last 24 hours and consists of 19 statements. For each statement, its negative impact on normal daily activities is rated on a likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 190; higher scores indicate that symptoms are having a larger negative impact on normal daily activities.

  6. Change in Number of Weekly Sessions of Cannabis Use

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    Self-reported measure.

  7. Change in Number of Monthly Sessions of Cannabis Use

    Time frame: End of Intervention (Week 4), Month 3

    Self-reported measure.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Official study title

A Teleheath tDCS Approach to Decrease Cannabis Use: Towards Reducing Multiple Sclerosis Disability

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Aug 13, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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