Development of novel replacement therapy for substance use disorders using inaudible high frequency sounds

• Project/Area Number: 17K19946
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Health science and related fields
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Yamashita Yuichi 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所 疾病研究第七部, 室長 (40584131)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥6,370,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,470,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000)
• Keywords: 非薬物療法 / 依存症 / ハイパーソニック・エフェクト / 認知行動療法 / 精神疾患 / 脳神経疾患 / 被薬物療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our previous work found that the effect of the whole-body effect following exposure to inaudible high-frequency sounds via the activation of deep brain activity, including reward-related circuitry (“the hyper-sonic effect”). We hypothesize that the hyper-sonic effect will improve craving symptoms in alcohol dependence. In order to test this hypothesis, we first conducted a pilot trial with 15 patients to test feasibility and safety of the inaudible high-frequency sound therapy for alcohol use disorder. Patients with alcohol use disorder were exposed to inaudible high-frequency sound therapy adding on group cognitive behavior therapy (GCBT). Throughout the trial, there was no report of side effects, indicating the feasibility and safety of the inaudible high-frequency sound stimulation. Subsequently, we conducted a randomized trial for investigating efficacy of on high-frequency sound therapy, and completed data collection from 47 patients within this research period.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の提案する治療法の有効性が確認されれば、低コストな新規の非薬物療法として依存症の克服に資することが期待される。音響機器は、介護場面や日常生活空間にも容易に設置が可能であり、依存症の治療のみならず、予防や介護者のストレス軽減といった、医療・福祉の両分野を連携した精神障害対策に活用できる可能性がある。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Augmentation of Positive Valence System?Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Inaudible High-Frequency Sounds for Anhedonia (2019)
  • Author(s): Ito Masaya、Miyamae Mitsuhiro、Yokoyama Chika、Yamashita Yuichi、Ueno Osamu、Maruo Kazushi、Komazawa Asami、Niwa Madoka、Honda Manabu、Horikoshi Masaru
  • Journal Title: JAMA Network Open Volume: 2 Issue: 11 Pages: e1915819-e1915819
  • DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.15819
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Induction of prolonged natural lifespans in mice exposed to acoustic environmental enrichment (2018)
  • Author(s): Yamashita Yuichi、Kawai Norie、Ueno Osamu、Matsumoto Yui、Oohashi Tsutomu、Honda Manabu
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Pages: 7909-7909
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26302-x
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Acoustic environment affects hormonal level and behavior in C57BL/6J mice (2019)
  • Author(s): Yui K Matsumoto, Yuichi Yamashita, Osamu Ueno, Manabu Honda
  • Organizer: ASAB Summer Conference 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] A preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of combined intervention of positive-valence system focused cognitive behavior therapy and inaudible high-frequency sound presentation for anhedonia (2019)
  • Author(s): M. Miyamae, M. Ito, Y. Yamashita, C. Yokoyama, A. Komazawa, O. Ueno, M. Niwa, M. Honda, M. Horikoshi
  • Organizer: Depression and Anxiety Conference 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 音響環境の違いがげっ歯類に与える影響 (2019)
  • Author(s): 松本結・山下祐一・上野修・本田学
  • Organizer: 第7回 多元質感知領域会議
• [Presentation] Non-pharmacological therapy for behavior and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) utilizing the hyper sonic effect: a pilot study. (2017)
  • Author(s): M. Honda, Y. Yamashita , M. Miyamae , O. Ueno, C. Oshiyama, S. Yoshida, N Kawai, T Oohashi,
  • Organizer: XXIII World Congress of Neurology
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] An open pilot study of non-pharmacological augmentation therapy for behavior and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) using inaudible high-frequency sounds (2017)
  • Author(s): Yuichi Yamashita, Osamu Ueno, Norie Kawai, Sumiko Yoshida, Chiaki Oshiyama, Yuma Yokoi, Naoki Yoshimura, Yuuki Yokota, Takahiro Tomizawa, Tsutomu Oohashi, Manabu Honda
  • Organizer: 32nd International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International
  • Int'l Joint Research