Home-based tDCS and Mindfulness-based Meditation for Self-management of Clinical Pain and Symptoms

NCT ID: NCT04375072

Last Updated: 2025-11-12

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

208 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-08-13

Study Completion Date

2025-01-30

Brief Summary

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This clinical trial aims to evaluate whether a 2 week regimen of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) can improve pain modulation, reduce clinical pain, and alleviate osteoarthritis (OA)-related symptoms in patients with knee OA.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Osteo Arthritis Knee

Keywords

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meditation

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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active tDCS paired with active MBM,

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

active tDCS paired with active MBM

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tDCS with a constant current intensity of 2 milli ampere (mA) will be applied for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks via the Soterix 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator device with headgear and saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. The meditation intervention will be applied simultaneously with tDCS for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks by a recorded meditation.

sham tDCS paired with active MBM

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

sham tDCS paired with active MBM

Intervention Type DEVICE

For sham stimulation, the electrodes will be placed in the same positions as for active stimulation, but the stimulator will only deliver 2 mA current for 30 seconds during each 20-minute session, conducted daily for 2 weeks. The meditation intervention will be applied simultaneously with tDCS for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks by a recorded meditation.

active tDCS paired with sham MBM

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

active tDCS paired with sham MBM

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tDCS with a constant current intensity of 2 milli ampere (mA) will be applied for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks via the Soterix 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator device with headgear and saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. The sham MBM intervention will be delivered via a CD player that will look identical in both active and sham MBM.

sham tDCS paired with sham MBM

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

sham tDCS paired with sham MBM

Intervention Type DEVICE

For sham stimulation, the electrodes will be placed in the same positions as for active stimulation, but the stimulator will only deliver 2 mA current for 30 seconds during each 20-minute session, conducted daily for 2 weeks. The sham MBM intervention will be delivered via a CD player that will look identical in both active and sham MBM.

Interventions

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active tDCS paired with active MBM

Active tDCS with a constant current intensity of 2 milli ampere (mA) will be applied for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks via the Soterix 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator device with headgear and saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. The meditation intervention will be applied simultaneously with tDCS for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks by a recorded meditation.

Intervention Type DEVICE

sham tDCS paired with active MBM

For sham stimulation, the electrodes will be placed in the same positions as for active stimulation, but the stimulator will only deliver 2 mA current for 30 seconds during each 20-minute session, conducted daily for 2 weeks. The meditation intervention will be applied simultaneously with tDCS for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks by a recorded meditation.

Intervention Type DEVICE

active tDCS paired with sham MBM

Active tDCS with a constant current intensity of 2 milli ampere (mA) will be applied for 20 minutes per session daily for 2 weeks via the Soterix 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator device with headgear and saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. The sham MBM intervention will be delivered via a CD player that will look identical in both active and sham MBM.

Intervention Type DEVICE

sham tDCS paired with sham MBM

For sham stimulation, the electrodes will be placed in the same positions as for active stimulation, but the stimulator will only deliver 2 mA current for 30 seconds during each 20-minute session, conducted daily for 2 weeks. The sham MBM intervention will be delivered via a CD player that will look identical in both active and sham MBM.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* have symptomatic knee OA based on American College of Rheumatology clinical criteria
* have had knee OA pain in the past 3 months with an average of at least 30 on a 0-100 NRS for pain,
* can speak and read English
* have no plan to change medication regimens for pain throughout the trial

Exclusion Criteria

* history of brain surgery, brain tumor, seizure, stroke, or intracranial metal implantation
* systemic rheumatic disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis,systemic lupus erythematosus, and fibromyalgia
* alcohol/substance abuse
* diminished cognitive function that would interfere with understanding study procedures (i.e., Mini-Mental Status Exam score ≤ 23)
* pregnancy or lactation
* prosthetic knee replacement or non-arthroscopic surgery to the affected knee
* hospitalization within the preceding year for psychiatric illness
* no access to a device that can be used for secure videoconferencing for real-time remote supervision.
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Arizona

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hyochol Ahn

Dean & Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hyochol Ahn, PhD,RN,MSN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Arizona

Locations

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University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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R01NR019051

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

R01NR019051-03S1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STUDY00003164

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id