Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Nicotine Dependence: An Effectiveness-Implementation Trial
Integrating Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Treatment for Nicotine Dependence in the Clinic: A Pragmatic, Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Nicotine Dependence: An Effectiveness-Implementation Trial (NCT06534047) is a Phase 4 interventional studying Tobacco Use Disorder and Psychiatric Disorder, sponsored by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, currently available treatments, including standard pharmacotherapy and behavioural support, are limited in their efficacy, tolerability, and acceptability by patients. Additionally, tobacco use is substantially higher in individuals with comorbid mental illness, constituting a particularly vulnerable population. As such, the development of multiple evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation is of upmost importance. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain-based approach in which alternating magnetic fields are applied to the scalp to induce electrical currents in cortical tissue. As it can modulate neural circuits implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, it is a promising brain-based approach in the treatment of substance use disorders. Recently, a deep TMS coil has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as efficacious for tobacco use disorder, representing the first rTMS indication for addictions. Before adoption of this intervention into smoking cessation clinics, it is important to investigate whether implementation of rTMS into clinical care is feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for patients receiving care for nicotine dependence. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of rTMS versus treatment as usual for patients with psychiatric disorders seeking treatment for smoking cessation. Also, barriers to the implementation of rTMS in routine clinical care will be examined by speaking with patients and health care providers on their experience with rTMS.
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 4 studies happen after a treatment has been approved by the FDA. They monitor long-term safety, real-world effectiveness, and any rare side effects that only emerge in larger populations over longer periods. Phase 4 results sometimes lead to label changes, additional warnings, or — rarely — withdrawal of approval.
This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.
With a target enrollment of 40 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.
Original Eligibility Criteria
View original clinical language
Treatments Being Tested
Brainsway H4 deep Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) coil
An rTMS treatment course consisting of daily treatment, 5 days per week, for 3 weeks, followed by once weekly treatments for 3 weeks, for a total of 18 treatment sessions over 6 weeks. Sixty trains of 30 pulses each (total 1,800 pulses) will be applied at 10 Hz, for 3 second trains, with a 15 second inter-train interval, for approximately 18 minutes of treatment time. At each rTMS treatment session, prior to stimulation, participants will undergo a smoking craving provocation procedure where they will be asked to close their eyes and imagine one of their triggers for 30 seconds. Following this they will watch a presentation of smoking pictures for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Thus, the entire craving provocation procedure will be 3 minutes prior to stimulation start. Brief behavioural support will be available to the participant on a weekly basis by a trained research staff member.
Nicotine replacement
Each participant will receive individualized NRT treatment through the advice of their study physician for 6 weeks. The study physician, in discussion with the participant, will decide the type, dosage, and combination of NRT to provide to the participant. NRT provided can include: * Patch (7mg, 14mg, and 21mg) * Gum (2mg) * Lozenge (2mg) * Inhaler (10mg; 4mg of nicotine delivered)
Locations (1)
Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06534047), the sponsor (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.
Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.
Authoritative Sources
The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCT06534047 clinical trial studying?
Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, currently available treatments, including standard pharmacotherapy and behavioural support, are limited in their efficacy, tolerability, and acceptability by patients. Additionally, tobacco use is substantially higher in individuals with comorbid mental illness, constituting a particularly vulnerable population. As such, the development of multiple evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation is of upmost importance. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain-bas… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT06534047?
Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.
How do I contact the trial site for NCT06534047?
Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.
Is participating in a clinical trial safe?
Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.
Where can I verify the data on this page?
Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.
How This Page Is Built
Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06534047. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06534047. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.