Personalized Brain Stimulation to Help Veterans Quit Smoking (NCT07050862)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Cigarette smoking is a significant public health concern for Veterans. Encouraging smoking cessation continues to be a top priority for the Veterans' Administration as Veterans who use tobacco experience negative health effects, including cancer, heart disease, and mental disorders. Despite the efficacy of current evidence-based pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies for smoking cessation, alternative treatments are critically needed. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, US FDA-approved for smoking cessation. In this protocol, the investigators propose comparing the two rTMS protocols (standard TMS vs. precision TMS) to find a better treatment parameter for smoking cessation in Veterans. Identifying an efficacious rTMS protocol would benefit Veterans who want to quit smoking.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (8 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (11 items).
Location: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC — Charleston, South Carolina
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Current moderate to severe substance use of any psychoactive substances other than nicotine or caffeine, as defined by DSM-V criteria
- Contraindications to MRI (e.g., metal in the skull, orbital or intracranial cavity, or claustrophobia)
- Contraindications to rTMS (history of a seizure or epilepsy)
- A history of autoimmune, endocrine, viral, or vascular disorders affecting the brain
- History or MRI evidence of neurological disorder that would lead to local or diffuse brain lesions or significant physical impairment
- Unstable cardiac disease, uncontrolled hypertension, severe renal or liver insufficiency, or sleep apnea
- Major Axis I disorders diagnosed according to DSM-V criteria, such as bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, or major depression
- Regarding the Veteran population, the investigators will enroll smokers who have PTSD
- Current use of other forms of nicotine delivery, such as nicotine patches or electronic cigarettes
- Currently prescribed bupropion and/or varenicline
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC — Charleston, South Carolina
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.