RS-tDCS for Cannabis Use Disorder

This study is looking at a treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) called RS-tDCS, which is a noninvasive brain stimulation device that uses a low electrical current. Participants will also practice mindfulness meditation. The study wants to see if this treatment is safe, possible to do, and if it helps people reduce their cannabis use. You might be able to join if you are 22-65 years old, meet the criteria for CUD, test positive for cannabis, and are looking to cut down or stop using cannabis. The study will measure how many people complete the treatment sessions, how many stop due to side effects, and if there are any serious side effects.

Study design
This is a pilot randomized controlled trial, meaning participants will be assigned by chance to receive either the active RS-tDCS or a sham (inactive) version. The study plans to enroll 46 participants.
What's involved
Participants will have 20 home-based RS-tDCS sessions paired with audio-guided mindfulness meditation over one month.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study measures outcomes at the end of treatment, which is up to 6 weeks.

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NCT07184983

RS-tDCS for Cannabis Use Disorder: The C.A.R.E.S. Initiative

Recruiting
NAAges 22–65InterventionalTreatment
NYU Langone Health
~46 participants
Updated 2026-04-21 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Mindfulness meditation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
The proportion of participants who complete at least 70% (14 out of 20) of intervention sessions
Measured over End of treatment (up to 6 weeks)
+5 more outcomes measured
Cannabis Use Disorder
1 sites across 1 states
New York1
  • Leigh Charvet, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · NYU Langone Health

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  • The proportion of participants who complete at least 70% (14 out of 20) of intervention sessionsEnd of treatment (up to 6 weeks)
  • The proportion of participants who discontinue due to adverse effectsEnd of treatment (up to 6 weeks)
  • The proportion of participants with no serious adverse eventsEnd of treatment (up to 6 weeks)
  • Change in cannabis use frequency, measured by the Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis-Use Inventory (DFAQ-CU)Baseline, End of treatment (up to 6 weeks)

    The DFAQ-CU is a self-report scale used to assess cannabis use behaviors. It measures frequency, quantity, age of onset, and daily sessions of cannabis use, including different forms like dry product, concentrates, and edibles. The DFAQ-CU also includes visual aids and questions about methods of cannabis administration and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels. Questions 2-3, 6-12 assess frequency.

  • Change in daily cannabis use, measured by the Timeline Followback (TLFB) method assessmentBaseline, End of treatment (up to 6 weeks)

    Daily cannabis use is assessed using the TLFB method, a validated self-report instrument used to collect retrospective estimates of daily cannabis use.

  • Change in cannabis withdrawal symptoms, measured by the Cannabis Withdrawal Scale (CWS)Baseline, End of treatment (up to 6 weeks)

    The CWS assesses withdrawal symptoms experienced over the last 24 hours and consists of 19 statements. For each statement, its negative impact on normal daily activities is rated on a Likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 190; higher scores indicate that withdrawal symptoms have a larger negative impact on normal daily activities.