Randomized Controlled Trial of Treatment to Optimize Heart Rate Variability for Persistent Post-C… (NCT07071350) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 2/3
Randomized Controlled Trial of Treatment to Optimize Heart Rate Variability for Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms
United States148 participantsStarted 2025-09-02
Plain-language summary
Many combat veterans (c-Vs), service members (SMs) and civilians with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI, also termed concussion) suffer from persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) that degrade physical and cognitive well-being and have been linked with early neurodegeneration. PPCS include somatosensory (e.g., headache, disturbed vision), vestibular (e.g., dizzy, clumsy), cognitive (e.g., executive function, memory) and affective symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbance, irritability, depression). A key pathological process that provokes and perpetuates PPCS is autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction such as unremitting sympathetic nervous system activation that also exacerbates other pathology such as inflammation. ANS activity can be readily quantified by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), or the variation in heart rate over time, which serves as a valid index of both physiological and psychological health
Who can participate
Age range
18 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:
* age 18 or older
* History of military service
* Self-Reported hx of 1 or more mild TBI
* Most recent TBI more than 1 year ago
* Significant Persistent Post-Concussion Symptom burden (Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory \[NSI\] total score greater than or equal to 20).
* Current Sleep Difficulties
* Fluent English
* Able to provide Informed Consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Any TBI with severity greater than mild (i.e., Moderate or Severe TBI defined as initial injury loss of consciousness (LOC) duration \>30 minutes, posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) duration \>24 hours, or traumatic hemorrhage on head computerized tomography (CT) and determined by the study investigator based on information gathered during administration of the study's validated TBI structured interview instrument.
* Conditions or medications that can affect HRV measurement (pacemaker or an implant that stimulates your heart (e.g., cardioverter-defibrillator or ICD); heart transplant or heart surgery within the last year, including bypass or other surgery, but not including a stent)
* Hx of stroke
* Mental conditions that may impede adherence (e.g., dementia, psychotic disorder, panic disorder)
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
Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI)
Timeframe: Baseline to end of study procedures (11 weeks)