tDCS for Social Media Addiction

NCT07410104 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PT-213/25
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation, can reduce "craving" and problematic levels of social media/internet use in university students. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does active tDCS reduce craving to use social media during the intervention period compared with sham stimulation and no stimulation?
• Does active tDCS reduce internet/social media addiction severity (measured with the Internet Addiction Test, IAT) compared with sham stimulation and no stimulation, and are any effects still present at follow-up? Researchers will compare three groups-active tDCS, sham tDCS (a simulation where stimulation is stopped after the first seconds), and a control group (no stimulation)-to see whether changes are due to tDCS rather than placebo effects or time. Participants will:
• Complete an initial screening and baseline questionnaires (a sociodemographic questionnaire and the IAT).
• Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: active tDCS, sham tDCS, or control (no stimulation).
• Complete the IAT again after the intervention and again about 5 weeks later (follow-up), along with questions about social media use habits. During intervention, participants in active tDCS and sham tDCS will:
• Attend 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (Monday-Friday), with each session lasting about 30 minutes; mobile phone use is not allowed during sessions.
• Rate craving on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the start and end of each session. This study will be conducted with university students in the Greater Lisbon area and will follow double-blind procedures for the active vs sham conditions (participants and researchers will not know the assigned condition until the end of the study).

Conditions

Social Media Addiction; Craving to Use Social Media; Craving; Internet Addiction

Keywords

Social media addiction; Internet addiction; Digital addiction; Craving; Transcranial direct current stimulation; tDCS; Non-invasive neuromodulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Internet Addiction Test (IAT) Total Score

  Severity of problematic internet/social media use measured by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT; 20 items; total score 0-100, higher scores mean worse outcome). The IAT is administered at baseline (pre-intervention), after completion of the intervention period, and again at follow-up to evaluate sustained effects. Group comparisons will be made between active tDCS, sham, and control arms.

  Baseline (pre-intervention); immediately post-intervention (after the 10-session/2-week period); follow-up ~5 weeks after the intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Social Media Craving (VAS)

  Each of 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks: assessed immediately pre-session and immediately post-session.

• Change in Social Media Use Habits (Self-Report)

  Baseline (pre-intervention); immediately post-intervention; follow-up ~5 weeks after the intervention.

Study Arms (3)

Active tDCS

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) delivered in 10 consecutive sessions (Monday-Friday for 2 weeks), 30 minutes per session, under supervision in a controlled setting. Electrode placement follows the International 10/20 system with the anode at F4 (right DLPFC) and the cathode at F3 (left DLPFC). Craving is rated before and after each session using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Sham tDCS

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants undergo the same schedule and procedures as the experimental arm (10 sessions over 2 weeks; 30 minutes/session; supervised; same electrode placement), but stimulation is discontinued after the first seconds to simulate stimulation while minimizing neuromodulatory effects.

Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham tDCS)

No Stimulation Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants do not receive tDCS sessions (no stimulation intervention). They complete the study assessments, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and questions about social media use habits at baseline and post-intervention, with follow-up reassessment approximately 5 weeks later.

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) DEVICE

Active tDCS delivered in 10 consecutive sessions (Monday-Friday over 2 weeks), 30 minutes per session, in a supervised controlled environment. Electrode montage follows the International 10/20 system with the anode at F4 (right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and the cathode at F3 (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex).

Also known as: (tDCS)

Active tDCS

Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham tDCS) DEVICE

Sham stimulation using the same device setup and schedule as active tDCS, but the stimulation is turned off after the first seconds to mimic the sensation while minimizing neuromodulatory effects. Sessions are supervised, with the same electrode positioning (anode F4; cathode F3).

Also known as: (Sham tDCS), Simulated tDCS

Sham tDCS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥18 years.
• Availability to participate in all study phases/sessions.
• IAT score ≥31 (moderate to severe level).

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of depressive, anxiety, or bipolar disorders with recent symptoms; schizophrenia; psychotic disorders; or autism spectrum disorder.
• Recent psychotropic medication use or dose change within the last 3 months.
• Current need for inpatient care or ongoing psychotherapy.
• History of dizziness or seizures/convulsions.
• Contraindications to tDCS, including pregnancy, metallic implants, tumors, prior brain surgery, or significant anatomical brain alterations.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL: lead

Study Sites (1)

Egas Moniz School of Health and Science

Almada, Portugal

RECRUITING

Related Publications (10)

• Weinstein A, Lejoyeux M. Internet addiction or excessive internet use. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010 Sep;36(5):277-83. doi: 10.3109/00952990.2010.491880.

  PMID: 20545603 BACKGROUND

• Uram P, Skalski S. Still Logged in? The Link Between Facebook Addiction, FoMO, Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction and Loneliness in Social Media Users. Psychol Rep. 2022 Feb;125(1):218-231. doi: 10.1177/0033294120980970. Epub 2020 Dec 10.

  PMID: 33302798 BACKGROUND

• Li Y, Li G, Liu L, Wu H. Correlations between mobile phone addiction and anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and poor sleep quality among college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Behav Addict. 2020 Sep 8;9(3):551-571. doi: 10.1556/2006.2020.00057. Print 2020 Oct 12.

  PMID: 32903205 BACKGROUND

• Correa Rangel T, Falcao Raposo MC, Sampaio Rocha-Filho PA. Internet addiction, headache, and insomnia in university students: a cross-sectional study. Neurol Sci. 2022 Feb;43(2):1035-1041. doi: 10.1007/s10072-021-05377-x. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

  PMID: 34106366 BACKGROUND

• Boggio PS, Zaghi S, Villani AB, Fecteau S, Pascual-Leone A, Fregni F. Modulation of risk-taking in marijuana users by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Dec 1;112(3):220-5. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.06.019. Epub 2010 Aug 21.

  PMID: 20729009 BACKGROUND

• Boggio PS, Liguori P, Sultani N, Rezende L, Fecteau S, Fregni F. Cumulative priming effects of cortical stimulation on smoking cue-induced craving. Neurosci Lett. 2009 Sep 29;463(1):82-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.07.041. Epub 2009 Jul 18.

  PMID: 19619607 BACKGROUND

• Giordano J, Bikson M, Kappenman ES, Clark VP, Coslett HB, Hamblin MR, Hamilton R, Jankord R, Kozumbo WJ, McKinley RA, Nitsche MA, Reilly JP, Richardson J, Wurzman R, Calabrese E. Mechanisms and Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. Dose Response. 2017 Feb 9;15(1):1559325816685467. doi: 10.1177/1559325816685467. eCollection 2017 Jan-Mar.

  PMID: 28210202 BACKGROUND

• Woods AJ, Antal A, Bikson M, Boggio PS, Brunoni AR, Celnik P, Cohen LG, Fregni F, Herrmann CS, Kappenman ES, Knotkova H, Liebetanz D, Miniussi C, Miranda PC, Paulus W, Priori A, Reato D, Stagg C, Wenderoth N, Nitsche MA. A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools. Clin Neurophysiol. 2016 Feb;127(2):1031-1048. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.11.012. Epub 2015 Nov 22.

  PMID: 26652115 BACKGROUND

• Goldman RL, Borckardt JJ, Frohman HA, O'Neil PM, Madan A, Campbell LK, Budak A, George MS. Prefrontal cortex transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) temporarily reduces food cravings and increases the self-reported ability to resist food in adults with frequent food craving. Appetite. 2011 Jun;56(3):741-6. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2011.02.013. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

  PMID: 21352881 BACKGROUND

• Boggio PS, Sultani N, Fecteau S, Merabet L, Mecca T, Pascual-Leone A, Basaglia A, Fregni F. Prefrontal cortex modulation using transcranial DC stimulation reduces alcohol craving: a double-blind, sham-controlled study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008 Jan 1;92(1-3):55-60. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.06.011. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

  PMID: 17640830 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Internet Addiction Disorder

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Therapeutics; Convulsive Therapy; Psychiatric Somatic Therapies; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Electroshock; Psychological Techniques

Central Study Contacts

Paulo Chaló, PhD

CONTACT

(+351) 212 946 700; pchalo@egasmoniz.edu.pt

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Active vs sham conditions are double-blind using coded accounts ("real" and "sham") so participants and the research team do not know assignment until study completion; the control group receives no stimulation.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Randomized, controlled, three-arm parallel design with repeated assessments across three time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and \~5-week follow-up).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

PT (1)