Trial Outcomes & Findings for Synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for PTSD (NCT NCT02981381)
NCT ID: NCT02981381
Last Updated: 2025-06-17
Results Overview
The PTSD checklist (PCL-5) will be used to assess PTSD symptom severity pre- and post-treatment. The change in total PCL-5 score from Baseline (Day 0) to endpoint (PT1) compared between active treatment and sham-controlled groups. If a participant does not complete PT1, last observation carried forward (LOCF) will be used. A 50% reduction in scores from Baseline scores to PT1 indicates clinical response to treatment (active sTMS vs. sham), and remission is defined by a post-treatment score below the threshold score published for the PCL-5. The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-item self-report measure used to assess the presence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; scores go from 0 to 80, where higher scores indicate greater severity. A score greater than 33 is typically used to indicate severity sufficient for a PTSD diagnosis. Items are rated from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (extremely) bothersome.
Recruitment status
COMPLETED
Study phase
NA
Target enrollment
23 participants
Primary outcome timeframe
1 month after final treatment (approximately 70 days total)
Results posted on
2025-06-17
Participant Flow
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Active sTMS (NEST-1)
Subjects randomized to this group will receive 20 active synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) treatments (30 minutes each) over a period of 40 calendar days. Treatment windows will be 10 calendar days to complete 5 active sTMS sessions. Serial assessments will be completed every 5 sessions. Post-treatment (PT1) endpoint assessments will take place on the last day of active sTMS.
Participants that elect to participate in the open-label continuation phase, will receive an additional 20 sTMS treatments (using the NEST-2 device), following the same administration structure as the sham-control series.
Participants will return to complete post-treatment follow-up assessments (PT2) 1 month after their last treatment session (either PT1 or OL PT1).
NEST-1: The NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) is an electromechanical medical device that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device includes an EEG recording module that is used to record individualized alpha frequency (IAF) on randomized personal passport modules (PPM) pre-assigned to be NEST-1 compatible.
NEST-2: The open-label NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device is distinct in both color and sound both SHAM and NEST-1 devices. PPMs corresponding with both SHAM and NEST-1 devices are compatible with the NEST-2 device.
|
Sham sTMS (SHAM)
Subjects randomized to this group will receive 20 sham synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) treatments (30 minutes each) over a period of 40 calendar days. Treatment windows will be 10 calendar days to complete 5 sham sessions. Serial assessments will be completed every 5 sessions. Post-treatment (PT1) endpoint assessments will take place immediately after the final sham session.
Participants that elect to participate in the open-label continuation phase, will receive 20 sTMS treatments (using the NEST-2 device), following the same administration structure as the sham-control series.
Participants will return to complete post-treatment follow-up assessments (PT2) 1 month after their last treatment session (either PT1 or OL PT1).
SHAM: The SHAM NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) is a device, identical to the active NEST-1 device, that is configured to simulate the delivery of active treatment without actively delivering sTMS therapy. The device includes an EEG recording module that is used to record individualized alpha frequency (IAF) on randomized personal passport modules (PPM) pre-assigned to be SHAM compatible.
NEST-2: The open-label NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device is distinct in both color and sound both SHAM and NEST-1 devices. PPMs corresponding with both SHAM and NEST-1 devices are compatible with the NEST-2 device.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Double Blind Phase
STARTED
|
10
|
13
|
|
Double Blind Phase
COMPLETED
|
7
|
12
|
|
Double Blind Phase
NOT COMPLETED
|
3
|
1
|
|
Optional Unblinded sTMS
STARTED
|
5
|
12
|
|
Optional Unblinded sTMS
COMPLETED
|
5
|
10
|
|
Optional Unblinded sTMS
NOT COMPLETED
|
0
|
2
|
Reasons for withdrawal
Withdrawal data not reported
Baseline Characteristics
Synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for PTSD
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Active sTMS (NEST-1)
n=10 Participants
Subjects randomized to this group will receive 20 active synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) treatments (30 minutes each) over a period of 40 calendar days. Treatment windows will be 10 calendar days to complete 5 active sTMS sessions. Serial assessments will be completed every 5 sessions. Post-treatment (PT1) endpoint assessments will take place on the last day of active sTMS.
Participants that elect to participate in the open-label continuation phase, will receive an additional 20 sTMS treatments (using the NEST-2 device), following the same administration structure as the sham-control series.
Participants will return to complete post-treatment follow-up assessments (PT2) 1 month after their last treatment session (either PT1 or OL PT1).
NEST-1: The NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) is an electromechanical medical device that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device includes an EEG recording module that is used to record individualized alpha frequency (IAF) on randomized personal passport modules (PPM) pre-assigned to be NEST-1 compatible.
NEST-2: The open-label NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device is distinct in both color and sound both SHAM and NEST-1 devices. PPMs corresponding with both SHAM and NEST-1 devices are compatible with the NEST-2 device.
|
Sham sTMS (SHAM)
n=13 Participants
Subjects randomized to this group will receive 20 sham synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) treatments (30 minutes each) over a period of 40 calendar days. Treatment windows will be 10 calendar days to complete 5 sham sessions. Serial assessments will be completed every 5 sessions. Post-treatment (PT1) endpoint assessments will take place immediately after the final sham session.
Participants that elect to participate in the open-label continuation phase, will receive 20 sTMS treatments (using the NEST-2 device), following the same administration structure as the sham-control series.
Participants will return to complete post-treatment follow-up assessments (PT2) 1 month after their last treatment session (either PT1 or OL PT1).
SHAM: The SHAM NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) is a device, identical to the active NEST-1 device, that is configured to simulate the delivery of active treatment without actively delivering sTMS therapy. The device includes an EEG recording module that is used to record individualized alpha frequency (IAF) on randomized personal passport modules (PPM) pre-assigned to be SHAM compatible.
NEST-2: The open-label NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device is distinct in both color and sound both SHAM and NEST-1 devices. PPMs corresponding with both SHAM and NEST-1 devices are compatible with the NEST-2 device.
|
Total
n=23 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
|
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
|
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
13 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
|
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
15 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
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 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
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
|
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
11 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
|
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
4 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
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: 1 month after final treatment (approximately 70 days total)The PTSD checklist (PCL-5) will be used to assess PTSD symptom severity pre- and post-treatment. The change in total PCL-5 score from Baseline (Day 0) to endpoint (PT1) compared between active treatment and sham-controlled groups. If a participant does not complete PT1, last observation carried forward (LOCF) will be used. A 50% reduction in scores from Baseline scores to PT1 indicates clinical response to treatment (active sTMS vs. sham), and remission is defined by a post-treatment score below the threshold score published for the PCL-5. The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) is a 20-item self-report measure used to assess the presence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; scores go from 0 to 80, where higher scores indicate greater severity. A score greater than 33 is typically used to indicate severity sufficient for a PTSD diagnosis. Items are rated from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (extremely) bothersome.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Active sTMS (NEST-1)
n=10 Participants
Subjects randomized to this group will receive 20 active synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) treatments (30 minutes each) over a period of 40 calendar days. Treatment windows will be 10 calendar days to complete 5 active sTMS sessions. Serial assessments will be completed every 5 sessions. Post-treatment (PT1) endpoint assessments will take place on the last day of active sTMS.
Participants that elect to participate in the open-label continuation phase, will receive an additional 20 sTMS treatments (using the NEST-2 device), following the same administration structure as the sham-control series.
Participants will return to complete post-treatment follow-up assessments (PT2) 1 month after their last treatment session (either PT1 or OL PT1).
NEST-1: The NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) is an electromechanical medical device that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device includes an EEG recording module that is used to record individualized alpha frequency (IAF) on randomized personal passport modules (PPM) pre-assigned to be NEST-1 compatible.
NEST-2: The open-label NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device is distinct in both color and sound both SHAM and NEST-1 devices. PPMs corresponding with both SHAM and NEST-1 devices are compatible with the NEST-2 device.
|
Sham sTMS (SHAM)
n=13 Participants
Subjects randomized to this group will receive 20 sham synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) treatments (30 minutes each) over a period of 40 calendar days. Treatment windows will be 10 calendar days to complete 5 sham sessions. Serial assessments will be completed every 5 sessions. Post-treatment (PT1) endpoint assessments will take place immediately after the final sham session.
Participants that elect to participate in the open-label continuation phase, will receive 20 sTMS treatments (using the NEST-2 device), following the same administration structure as the sham-control series.
Participants will return to complete post-treatment follow-up assessments (PT2) 1 month after their last treatment session (either PT1 or OL PT1).
SHAM: The SHAM NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) is a device, identical to the active NEST-1 device, that is configured to simulate the delivery of active treatment without actively delivering sTMS therapy. The device includes an EEG recording module that is used to record individualized alpha frequency (IAF) on randomized personal passport modules (PPM) pre-assigned to be SHAM compatible.
NEST-2: The open-label NeoSync EEG Synchronized TMS (NEST) that produces and delivers a sinusoidal magnetic field to areas of the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The device is distinct in both color and sound both SHAM and NEST-1 devices. PPMs corresponding with both SHAM and NEST-1 devices are compatible with the NEST-2 device.
|
|---|---|---|
|
PCL-5 Total Score Change
|
50.1 Units on a scale (PCL-5)
Standard Deviation 7.4
|
49.2 Units on a scale (PCL-5)
Standard Deviation 9.3
|
Adverse Events
Active sTMS (NEST-1)
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Sham sTMS (SHAM)
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place