Case report

Tremor in the placebo condition of a blinded clinical trial of intermittent theta-burst stimulation for cocaine use disorder

Bibliographic Data

ID15523314
AuthorsVaughn R Steele (0000-0002-7903-2114, Hartford Hospital, corresponding author), Alexander Rotenberg (0000-0002-6495-5928, Boston Children's Hospital), Noah S Philip (0000-0002-4889-8775, Brown University), Mark Hallett (0000-0002-3180-6811, National Institutes of Health), Elliot A Stein (0000-0003-0593-0269, National Institutes of Health), B J Salmeron (0000-0003-1699-9333, National Institutes of Health, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume15
Pages1391771-1391771
Publication date2024-07-09
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1391771
PMID39045554
OpenAlexW4400463705
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited15

We report a case of a new-onset, persistent tremor that developed during a clinical trial (NCT02927236) of intermittent theta burst stimulation [iTBS, a form of repetitive magnetic transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)] for cocaine use disorder. Although the participant exhibited an exceptionally strong clinical response, subsequent unblinding revealed that they received sham iTBS. This case highlights the potential for strong functional neurological placebo responses in rTMS trials, and functional disorders might be a marker of a placebo response. Additionally, we note the possibility that the weak e-fields produced by some sham rTMS systems may induce clinically relevant effects

Anesthesia · Clinical trial · Functional disorder · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Placebo · Psychiatry · Stimulation · Transcranial magnetic stimulation · Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases · Medicine · Neurological disorders and treatments · Neuroscience · Psychology · Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies · Internal Medicine

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