New 'brain pacemaker' trial to combat addiction
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is working with King’s College Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge to develop an innovative new pilot project which focuses on helping people with addiction issues who have proved to be treatment-resistant and who have not responded to existing therapies.
The trial which will initially see 12 patients, half with alcohol addiction and half with opioid addiction, will be conducted across multiple regions.
The technique – known as deep brain stimulation (DBS) – targets the brain's reward circuitry to disrupt maladaptive behaviour patterns associated with addiction. And is already commonly used for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s. Deep brain stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure that delivers ongoing stimulation to the brain. Once in place, the electrodes modulate brain activity and cravings to help improve self-control, acting like a "brain pacemaker" to normalise abnormal brain activity.
Although there have several reports suggesting DBS is effective in addictions, this is the first major, multicentre study to use DBS to treat craving and relapse in severe addiction.
Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at South London and Maudsley, Dr David Okai, said: "DBS is safe, reversible and adjustable, so it offers a flexible option for managing chronic conditions. We hope it will offer a lifeline to help improve the quality of life for patients whose treatment until now has been unsuccessful."
Details on the trial, including criteria for participation and how to sign up, can be found on the Brain-PACER website.
