Research progress on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of alcohol addiction: A narrative review

Abstract

Alcohol addiction is a complex psycho-physiological disorder affecting neurotransmitter release and nerve impulses in multiple central nervous system regions, causing severe physical and mental harm and societal burden. Existing treatments (medication, psychotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine) have limitations, including poor control of alcohol craving, high re-drinking rates, inadequate improvement of comorbid symptoms (anxiety, depression, cognitive decline), and issues such as non-specific drug targeting and subjective bias in psychotherapy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive physical therapy with advantages of painlessness, safety, and minimal side effects, has shown efficacy in neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and cognitive decline. Although its application in alcohol addiction is in the early stage, clinical trials indicate that it can reduce alcohol craving and re-drinking rates. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of alcohol addiction and the clinical efficacy of rTMS, aiming to provide a reference for its promotion in substance addiction treatment.

Keywords

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation / Alcohol / Substance addiction / Dopaminergic reward system

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 82374567), the Nature Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2023A1515012779), and the Foundation of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee (JCYJ20210324093213035).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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