[Transcranial magnetic stimulation for nicotine dependence].
70-80% of regular smokers fulfill the ICD-10-criteria of dependence. In Germany, approximately 120,000 deaths per year are caused by tobacco-associated diseases. In contrast, therapeutic interventions, such as nicotine substitution or bupropione, yield poor abstinence rates of 30% after 12 months, at best. In animal experiments, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) exhibited modulatory effects on dopaminergic neurotransmission in regions of the so-called reward system. This pilot study should evaluate, if rTMS could modulate subjective craving for tobacco, which quite often leads to relapse to smoking. Therefore, 11 tobacco-dependent cigarette smokers were randomly assigned to a course of verum- and placebo-rTMS on consecutive days. Craving, as measured by a visual analogue scale, is significantly decreased after Verumstimulation compared to placebo-stimulation intra-individually. This encourages further studies to clarify, if rTMS might be helpful in achieving higher tobacco abstinence rates in smokers willing to quits.
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004298:Dopamine