Effect of High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Gambling Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT07228182 · tracked via the Priya Life Science China tracker

Sponsor

Shanghai Mental Health Center

Phase

Not applicable

Started

2026-06-01

Last updated

2026-06-10

Condition(s) studied

Gambling Disorder

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

HI-tACSSham stimulation

HI-tACS: Three conductive electrodes are placed overhead. In the 10/20 international placement system, a 4.45 9.53 cm electrode is placed on the forehead corresponding to Fpz, Fp1 and Fp2. Two 3.18 3.81 cm electrodes are placed on the mastoid region of each side. The tACS stimulation waveform includes ramp-up and ramp-down periods of 180 and 12 s, respectively. The frequency of stimulation is 77.5Hz, and the current is 15mA.

Sham stimulation: Three conductive electrodes are placed overhead. In the 10/20 international placement system, a 4.45 9.53 cm electrode is placed on the forehead corresponding to Fpz, Fp1 and Fp2. Two 3.18 3.81 cm electrodes are placed on the mastoid region of each side. The appearance of the above-mentioned equipment is identical to that of the real stimulation group devices, but it only simulates the electrical sensation produced at the beginning and end of stimulation.

Study summary

The investigators assume that High-intensity transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (HI-tACS) could improve gambling disorder patients' executive-control function by modulating abnormal neural activity, particularly gamma-band oscillations, which are closely associated with executive-control deficits. This study intends to validate the effect of HI-tACS treatment, which has been discovered in the previous pilot study. A three-month follow-up assessment will be conducted to test the changes in executive-control function and its underlying mechanism.

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Min age

18 Years

Max age

60 Years

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-60, male or female, with 9 or more years of education, and able to complete questionnaire evaluation and behavioral tests; * Meet DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders，DSM) diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder; * Have gambled for at least one year (at least once a week); * Normal vision and hearing, or within the normal range after correction; * Agree to cooperate in the follow-up evaluation; * No metal implantation in the head, no history of nerve problems or head injury, and no skin sensitivity. Exclusion Criteria: * Have severe cognitive impairment, such as a history of head trauma, -cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, etc.; * Have used drugs promoting cognitive function in the last 6 months; * Have impaired intelligence (Intelligence Quotient\<70); * Abuse or dependence of psychoactive substances (except nicotine) in the last 5 years.

Primary outcome measure(s)

Change of the gambling symptoms — Baseline, immediately after the intervention, two weeks after the intervention, one month after the intervention, two months after the intervention, three months after the intervention
Gambling symptom severity will be measured by the Pathological Gambling Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (PG-YBOCS). The total score of PG-YBOCS ranges from 0 to 40, in which higher scores indicate more severe pathological gambling symptoms.

Trial sites (1)

Facility	City	Region	Status
Shanghai Mental Health Center	Shanghai	China	Recruiting

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Official registry record

This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.

View NCT07228182 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in China