Trial Outcomes & Findings for The Effect of Repeated Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior (NCT NCT02674516)

NCT ID: NCT02674516

Last Updated: 2022-01-18

Results Overview

The number of pins (between 0 and 51) that participants decide to insert into a picture of a voodoo doll on a computer that represents either a romantic partner or close friend will be recorded.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

32 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

On average, 48 hours after the first 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends

Results posted on

2022-01-18

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Anodal Stimulation
Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo 3 sessions of anodal bilateral transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on three consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the DLPFC bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA (1mA at each DLPFC site) will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period. Transcranial direct current stimulation
Sham Stimulation
The sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds. Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Overall Study
STARTED
17
15
Overall Study
COMPLETED
13
11
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
4
4

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Anodal Stimulation
Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo 3 sessions of anodal bilateral transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on three consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the DLPFC bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA (1mA at each DLPFC site) will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period. Transcranial direct current stimulation
Sham Stimulation
The sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds. Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
3
0
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
0
4
Overall Study
Knowledge of study hypothesis
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

The Effect of Repeated Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Anodal Stimulation
n=13 Participants
Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo 3 sessions of anodal bilateral transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on three consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the DLPFC bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA (1mA at each DLPFC site) will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period. Transcranial direct current stimulation
Sham Stimulation
n=11 Participants
The sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds. Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Total
n=24 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
31.15 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.77 • n=5 Participants
33.27 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.10 • n=7 Participants
32.13 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.17 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
13 participants
n=5 Participants
11 participants
n=7 Participants
24 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: On average, 48 hours after the first 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends

The number of pins (between 0 and 51) that participants decide to insert into a picture of a voodoo doll on a computer that represents either a romantic partner or close friend will be recorded.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Anodal Stimulation
n=13 Participants
Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo 3 sessions of anodal bilateral transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on three consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the DLPFC bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA (1mA at each DLPFC site) will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period. Transcranial direct current stimulation
Sham Stimulation
n=11 Participants
The sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds. Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Number of Pins Inserted Into a Virtual Voodoo Doll After 48 Hours
3.77 pins
Standard Deviation 8.88
.64 pins
Standard Deviation 1.50

Adverse Events

Anodal Stimulation

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 12 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Sham Stimulation

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 8 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Anodal Stimulation
n=13 participants at risk
Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo 3 sessions of anodal bilateral transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on three consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the DLPFC bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA (1mA at each DLPFC site) will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period. Transcranial direct current stimulation
Sham Stimulation
n=11 participants at risk
The sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds. Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Itchiness
92.3%
12/13 • Number of events 12 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
36.4%
4/11 • Number of events 4 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
General disorders
Lightheadedness
23.1%
3/13 • Number of events 3 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
9.1%
1/11 • Number of events 1 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Pain
46.2%
6/13 • Number of events 6 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
27.3%
3/11 • Number of events 3 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Burning
69.2%
9/13 • Number of events 9 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
36.4%
4/11 • Number of events 4 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Mild warmth
38.5%
5/13 • Number of events 5 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
9.1%
1/11 • Number of events 1 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Pinching
46.2%
6/13 • Number of events 6 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
27.3%
3/11 • Number of events 3 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
General disorders
Iron taste
15.4%
2/13 • Number of events 2 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
9.1%
1/11 • Number of events 1 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
General disorders
Fatigue
23.1%
3/13 • Number of events 3 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session
9.1%
1/11 • Number of events 1 • 48 hours after the end of the first stimulation session

Additional Information

Dr. Olivia Choy

Nanyang Technological University

Phone: (65) 65921522

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place