High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation showed promise for reducing cannabis craving, but combining it with cannabis cue exposure did not add benefit over stimulation alone.
Addiction researchers, neuromodulation specialists, clinicians treating cannabis use disorder
91.7% completion rate but only 19.6% of eligible patients agreed to participate
What the researchers found
All groups showed reduced cannabis craving, frequency, and improved cognition; anodal right DLPFC HD-tDCS was safe with high completion rates (91.7%); cue exposure did not add to the effect of stimulation.
Why it matters
Non-invasive brain stimulation represents a potential medication-free treatment for cannabis use disorder, though optimal protocols still need refinement.
The numbers in context
48 participants; 4 groups of 12; 19.6% acceptance rate; 91.7% completion rate; craving reductions sustained at 4-week follow-up in all groups except sham + cue; cannabis use frequency and amount reduced in all groups.
How the study worked
Double-blind RCT; 48 participants with cannabis use disorder randomized to 4 groups (tDCS + cue, tDCS + neutral, sham + cue, sham + neutral); 6 sessions; craving assessed post-treatment and at 4-week follow-up.
What this study cannot tell us
Small sample (48 total, 12 per group); low acceptance rate (19.6%); all groups improved, making it difficult to isolate specific effects; no long-term follow-up beyond 4 weeks.
How to read the evidence
Randomized double-blind design provides methodological rigor, but small sample size and improvements across all groups (including sham) limit conclusions about specific efficacy.
When this study was published
Published 2025
The bigger picture
Brain stimulation therapies for substance use disorders are advancing, and this pilot suggests tDCS targeting the right DLPFC is safe and feasible for cannabis use disorder.
Questions still open
- Why did sham groups also improve? Would more sessions or different stimulation parameters produce stronger between-group differences? Can acceptance rates be improved for clinical translation?
Common questions
Did brain stimulation reduce cannabis craving?
Was the treatment safe?
Read the original research
Acceptability, Feasibility, and Effectiveness of Concurrent High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cue Exposure in Cannabis Use Disorder: A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
The journal of ECT, 41(2), 126-135
Citation
Chauhan, Devika; Ghosh, Abhishek; Naik, Shalini S; Rana, Devender K; Singh, Shubh Mohan. (2025). Acceptability, Feasibility, and Effectiveness of Concurrent High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cue Exposure in Cannabis Use Disorder: A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.. The journal of ECT, 41(2), 126-135. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000001087
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