MedTrace Logo

HABITS Study (Helping Addiction by Individualized Therapeutic Stimulation): Pilot Trial of Deep Brain Stimulation Guided By Stereoelectroencephalography for Treatment-Refractory Substance Use Disorders

NCT06973512 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 10

Last updated 2026-04-29

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Substance use disorder (SUD) or addiction to drugs/alcohol is a devastating disease. Over 40,000 overdose deaths have happened in Canada since 2016, 1 in 5 Canadians will have a SUD, and 70% of those with SUD continue to relapse, showing that we urgently need new treatments. The Helping Addiction by Individualized Therapeutic Stimulation (HABITS) Study is exploring deep brain stimulation (DBS) for people who have failed to quit harmful substances.

Over 250,000 people have received DBS, which is well-established for Parkinson's disease and has evidence of success in major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. DBS uses electricity to directly stimulate areas of the brain. However, for DBS to work effectively, it needs to be personalized to each individual, which will be pursued through stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG). DBS and SEEG are minimally invasive and reversible, with a low risk of side effects.

SEEG started over 70 years ago to find seizure location in the brain of children and adults with epilepsy. It now has been used for major depression and chronic pain to guide DBS. It involves inserting electrodes temporarily across critical brain areas and monitoring patients for several days. SEEG can provide an understanding of where addiction and craving are in the brain to guide the placement of DBS electrodes and device settings that are optimal for a person.

In the HABITS Study, 10 participants will receive DBS guided by SEEG and undergo 11 study visits. Individuals will first undergo detoxification with CAMH. Then, they will receive DBS and SEEG at Toronto Western Hospital, where they will stay for 1 to 2 weeks. Finally, they will be followed for a year, where they will receive standard psychiatric care.

SUD causes heavy burdens on individuals, families, healthcare systems, and society. The HABITS Study promises to personalize DBS to treat those who are struggling with severe addiction.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

deep brain stimulation and stereoelectroencephalography

Deep brain stimulation guided by stereoelectroencephalography

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Health Network, Toronto

    collaborator OTHER

  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
25 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-11-01
Primary Completion
2028-01-01
Completion
2028-01-01
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06973512 on ClinicalTrials.gov