# sTMS for Substance Use-disordered Veterans

> **NIH VA I21** · PROVIDENCE VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

The goal of this proposal is to evaluate preliminary participant response to a pilot, controlled,
feasibility study to evaluate changes in craving, substance use, and quality of life after 6 weeks
of a low-risk non-invasive brain stimulation technique, called Synchronized Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS), compared to sham, in Veterans with a substance use disorder
(SUD). An important focus of this application will be evaluating the acceptability, tolerability, and
safety of sTMS in this population. To our knowledge, sTMS has never been used for SUDs, and
holds considerable promise as a future treatment option for these prevalent disorders. However
initial work in the acceptability, tolerability, and safety of this approach must be conducted first.
This project is the first step towards our long-term goal, which is to combine non-invasive brain
stimulation with individualized psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy to reduce SUD problems and
improve quality of life for Veterans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11023017
- **Project number:** 5I21RX003338-05
- **Recipient organization:** PROVIDENCE VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN E MCGEARY
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11023017

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11023017, sTMS for Substance Use-disordered Veterans (5I21RX003338-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11023017. Licensed CC0.

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