The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep in individuals with substance use disorders: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with significant sleep disturbances, which contribute to increased relapse risk and poorer treatment outcomes. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising intervention for SUDs and has been shown to improve sleep in other clinical populations. However, its influence on sleep in individuals with SUDs has not been systematically examined. Understanding this relationship is critical, as improving sleep could enhance treatment outcomes and reduce relapse risk.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for primary research. Keywords included "transcranial magnetic stimulation," "substance use disorders," and "sleep". Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with any SUD according to standardized criteria, rTMS as an addiction treatment, and sleep outcomes using either self-reported or objective measures.

RESULTS

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Ten reported statistically significant sleep improvements following rTMS, with common parameters among these positive studies including stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and protocols delivering ≥10 sessions. All studies used subjective measures for the sleep outcomes, and most focused on individuals with methamphetamine or cocaine use disorder.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the effects of rTMS on sleep in SUDs is crucial for improving treatment strategies. Findings suggest that rTMS may improve sleep in this population, but further studies using objective sleep measures, more diverse samples, and longer-term follow-up are needed. If validated, rTMS could be a multifaceted tool to improve both substance use and sleep outcomes.