Transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation in the treatment of alcohol dependence

Lucia M. Alba-Ferrara, Francisco Fernandez, Ramiro Salas, Gabriel A. De Erausquin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Alcohol dependence is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Alcoholism can lead to damage of the gastrointestinal, nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems and it can be lethal, costing hundreds of billions to the health care system. Despite the existence of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychosocial interventions, and spiritually integrated treatment to treat it, alcohol dependence has a high relapse rate and poor prognosis, albeit with high interindividual variability. In this review, we discuss the use of 2 neuromodulation techniques, namely repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation, and their advantages and disadvantages compared with first-line pharmacological treatment for alcohol dependence. We also discuss repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation targets for alcohol dependence treatment, considering experimental animal and human evidence, with careful consideration of methodological issues preventing the identification of feasible targets for neuromodulation treatments, as well as interindividual variability factors influencing alcoholism prognosis. Finally, we anticipate future research aiming to tailor the treatment to each individual patient by combining neurofunctional, neuroanatomic, and neurodisruptive techniques optimizing the outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)159-169
Number of pages11
JournalAddictive Disorders and their Treatment
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Addiction
  • Alcoholism
  • DBS
  • Habenula
  • Liver transplant
  • Nucleus accumbens
  • RTMS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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