Assessing the Role of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Aberrant Executive Function in the Context of Major Depressive Disorder in Adult Outpatients Seeking Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
The prefrontal cortex, although well established as an efficacious target for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), has recently come into favour as a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders (AUD). Depressive symptoms are also highly prevalent in individuals with AUD. A number of cognitive and psychological processes stemming from the prefrontal cortex, a common treatment target for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are disrupted in both MDD and AUD. The proposed study will enhance the development of theta burst stimulation (TBS) as a new intervention for AUD in the context of depressive symptoms and uses integrated TMS-EEG to identify neurophysiological targets of executive dysfunction in this disorder.
• are outpatients;
• are voluntary and competent to consent to treatment;
• have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of AUD based on the MINI;
• do not exhibit problematic use of any substances (excluding nicotine and caffeine), including alcohol, for \>1 month;
• are male or female between the ages of 18 - 59;
• screened positive for an MDE based on the MINI without psychotic symptoms
• are agreeable to keeping their current antidepressant medications and medications for alcohol use disorder constant during the study;
• are reliably taking SUD agonist therapies if appropriate and managed by their clinical team;
• are able to adhere to the study schedule;
⁃ meet the TMS safety criteria.