Neuromodulation in Addiction Sciences

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with high rates of comorbid depression. Finding effective treatments for many of the substances of abuse is still an area of developing research. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an established treatment for depression, but its effects in SUDs are less conclusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of rTMS in patients with SUDs and comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD). Retrospective study where we collected and analyzed data obtained from the computerized medical record system for patients admitted to the inpatient unit at Erada Center for Addiction and Rehabilitation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) between June 2019 and September 2020. Linear regression analysis showed that the number of rTMS sessions received significantly predicted the number of days of abstinence in the community after treatment with rTMS, with a significant improvement in the days of abstinence after rTMS treatment. Patients with SUDs and MDD who received rTMS significantly improved in the areas of severity of depression and craving. The number of rTMS sessions significantly predicted increased abstinence.