The Role of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Treating Alcohol Use Disorder: Neural Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Future Directions

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a global health challenge, affecting 10-15% of the population, with significant social, health, and economic consequences. Although pharmacotherapies such as disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate are available, their effectiveness is limited and patient adherence is often poor. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that targets neural circuits implicated in addiction. Emerging evidence suggests that rTMS may reduce alcohol craving and consumption, although results have been mixed. This review examines the neural mechanisms by which rTMS may influence AUD, summarizes current clinical evidence of its efficacy, and discusses future directions.