Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Pain Treatment in Gulf War Illness. (NCT03547869) | Clinical Trial Compass
TerminatedNot Applicable
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Pain Treatment in Gulf War Illness.
Stopped: Funding finished
United States9 participantsStarted 2018-03-12
Plain-language summary
The goal of this study is to investigate long-term modulation of pain pathways leading to a suppression of pain symptoms in Gulf War Illness patients by applying transcranial direct current stimulation.
Who can participate
Age range
45 Years – 78 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
. Male and female US military veterans serving during the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 years old during service in the Gulf War (born between 1940 and 1973).
. English speakers.
Exclusion criteria
. Non-English speakers.
. History of a neurological disorder, including dementia of any type, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), brain tumors, present or past drug abuse, stroke, blood vessel abnormalities in the brain, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, or multiple sclerosis. Traumatic brain injury will be screened by history.
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.
1This trial was terminated before completing — do you know why it was stopped, and does that affect whether its findings on tDCS for Gulf War Illness pain would still be relevant to my situation?
2The trial used a visual analogue scale to measure pain changes — based on whatever results were collected before it ended, is there any signal about whether transcranial direct current stimulation actually helped reduce pain in people with Gulf War Syndrome?
3Since this study's phase is listed as 'NA' and it was terminated, how much do we really know about the safety and effectiveness of tDCS for Gulf War Illness pain specifically, compared to other approaches you might recommend?
4Are there other active or completed trials, or standard treatments for Gulf War Illness-related pain, that might be a better option for me to explore given that this one didn't reach completion?
5If tDCS is something you think could still be worth trying for my Gulf War Illness symptoms, is there another research program or clinical setting where I could access it under proper medical supervision?
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
Pain Symptom Changes Will be Measured by a Visual Analogue Scale for Pain .
Timeframe: Before tDCS stimulation (baseline), immediately after (immediate-post) tDCS intervention measurements and 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the last tDCS session.
. No subjects will be enrolled who are cognitively or clinically incompetent to give informed consent.
. Subjects cannot be taking medications that include: amphetamines, L-dopa, carbamazepine, sulpiride, pergolide, lorazepam, rivastigmine, dextromethorphan, D-cycloserine, flunarizine, ropinirole,or citalopram.
. Subjects with cardiac pacemakers, implanted medication pumps of any sort, or a history of bad heart disease, a history of seizures and/or family members with a history of seizures, and/or the presence of any metal objects in or near the head which cannot be safely removed for the duration of this study.