Researchers analyzed data from 9 different trials involving 556 people with substance use disorders. They looked at the effects of prefrontal intermittent theta-burst stimulation, known as iTBS, compared to a sham treatment. The study specifically looked at how this brain stimulation affected cravings and abstinence for substances like methamphetamine and nicotine.
The results showed that iTBS was linked to a significant reduction in cravings for those with methamphetamine use disorder. However, the same treatment did not show any measurable effect on cravings for people using nicotine. While the data suggested that active iTBS might help with staying sober from drugs, these findings are based on a small number of studies and short follow-up periods.
Because the evidence for long-term abstinence is limited and the results vary depending on the specific substance, these findings are not yet ready to change standard medical practice. The study highlights that while brain stimulation shows promise for methamphetamine cravings, more large-scale trials with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
