Neuromodulation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (NCT02377089) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Neuromodulation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
United States72 participantsStarted 2014-05
Plain-language summary
The investigators propose to use a clinical trial to test Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) to examine the efficacy of TNS as a new treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans. Recruitment will take place at the PTSD Outpatient Clinic at the Veterans Affair Greater Los Angeles (VA GLA). Study participants will be asked to complete, at most, 9 assessments/questionnaires regarding their PTSD symptoms and quality of life, use the TNS device every night for 8 hours, log their use of the device, and attend weekly visits to monitor safety and complete assessments. Each subject will be asked to attend 8 visits over the course of 8 weeks. Subjects who receives the sham-controlled treatment will have an additional follow-up phone visit 4 weeks after the week 8 endpoint to examine symptom improvements.
Enrollment and subject-related procedures are projected to take approximately 36 months. Preparations for clinical trial, clinical trial/study procedures and data analysis will occupy a 6 month period, a 36 month period, and a 6 month period, respectively. The duration of this project is approximately 4 years.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. 21-65 years old and be a patient in the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) Clinic at the Veterans Affair Greater Los Angeles
. have experienced trauma while serving in a war zone in Iraq or Afghanistan
. meet The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) criteria for current war zone-related PTSD with a duration of at least 3 months
. have completed a course of Prolonged Exposure(PE) therapy in the Resident Psychotherapy Program in the PTSD Clinic within six months of enrollment and with significant residual PTSD symptoms as evidenced by a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale score \>50
. consent to be randomized to active or sham Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation treatment
. if receiving medication for depression, anxiety, sleep, or mood stabilization, must have been on stable dose for at least six weeks prior to randomization.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Treatment Efficacy as Measured by Change in Clinician-Administered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Score for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition(DSM-V) at Baseline and Week 8 Visit
Timeframe: 8 weeks (Baseline visit and Week 8 visit)
. current substance abuse not in remission for at least 3 months
. a history of bipolar, schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, or dementia
. current suicidal or homicidal ideation requiring hospitalization, or suicide attempt within six months
. report of severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with coma duration (30 minutes or more) during the screening interview and/or duration of post - traumatic amnesia (1hour or greater) on the Post-traumatic Amnesia Questionnaire (PTAQ)
. evidence of receiving antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic, or mood-stabilizer medication where the dose has not been stable for a minimum of six weeks prior to entering the randomization
. evidence of receiving psychosocial or medication treatment through a clinic or facility other than the VA GLA PTSD Clinic.
. infection or loss of integrity of skin over the forehead, where the electrode pads will be placed.