Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Gambling Disorder

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The role of neuromodulation for cognitive processing and behavioural inhibition in gambling disorder

• IRAS ID

  241677

• Contact name

  Elena Gomis-Vicent

• Contact email

  e.gomisvicent@uel.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of East London

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  NCT03464838

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 10 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  Gambling Disorder is associated with high impulsivity and excessive risk-taking
  behaviour. These behavioural characteristics related to addiction are linked
  to cognitive processes in specific brain areas located in the prefrontal cortex
  (PFC).

  With the aim of studying the role of PFC in gambling disorder, the investigators employ transcranial current direct stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that applies a very weak electrical current to the scalp.

  The clinical phase of the research consists on studying the effects of tDCS in
  combination with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in patients that attend
  the UK National Problem Gambling Clinic.

  The main objective of the project is to investigate whether this technique can help to decrease risk-taking behaviour, and therefore offer improved opportunities for the treatment of gambling disorder.

• REC name

  London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  18/LO/1454

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Oct 2018

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion