Modulation of Sense of Agency With Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Therapy

NCT ID: NCT05086380

Last Updated: 2025-03-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

190 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-12-10

Study Completion Date

2024-12-16

Brief Summary

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A conversion disorder is a dysfunction of the nervous system in which no structural damage can be demonstrated. However, it must be distinguished from other psychiatric disorders such as psychosis or depression. There are a variety of signs of the disease, such as muscle paralysis, uncontrolled tremors or cramps. In rarer cases, blindness, deafness or numbness may occur. Diagnosing this complex disorder has always been a challenge for neurologists and psychiatrists.

This study investigates the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the general well-being and symptoms of conversion disorder and other neurological disorders and in comparison to healthy subjects. The TMS method allows to target specific areas of the brain by means of magnetic fields. This technique is not painful and does not have long-lasting effects.

In addition, the study investigates the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the general well-being and symptoms of conversion disorder and other neurological disorders and compared to healthy subjects. This technique is not painful and has no long-lasting effects.

Furthermore, the study examines movement patterns and symptoms of patients compared to healthy controls while they are in a virtual reality.

Finally, the study examines patients' brain activity while playing a game targeting the sense of agency in real time, which is recorded with an MRI scanner.

The study includes a maximum of twelve sessions in total (ten sessions of approximately 1.5-2 hours each and two sessions each overnight). The planned study methods include TMS, (real-time and normal) magnetic resonance tomography of the brain (MRI "tube"), virtual- and augmented reality (AR/VR), questionnaires, blood, saliva, and motion sensors (e.g., fitness bracelet), and participation in the 8-week mindfulness program.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder Neurological Diseases or Conditions

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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FND Patients Experimental

Group of patients with functional neurological disorders

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

MBSR Therapy is a structured 8-week program that employs mindfulness meditation to alleviate suffering associated with physical, psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders. The program is based upon a systematic procedure to develop enhanced awareness of moment-to-moment experience of perceptible mental processes.

Inhibitory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using cTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

TMS sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the vertex

Excitatory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using iTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Virtual Reality

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to manipulate the perception of symptoms of patients while they are playing a game in virtual/augmented reality.

Neurofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Neurofeedback training will be applied in patients while laying in an MRI scanner. Patients will play a game, which targets the sense of agency, and will receive a real-time feedback about their performance and brain activity. They will learn to self-regulate their performance on the game in order to increase brain activity relevant for the sense of agency.

Organic controls

Group of patients with organic neurological disorders

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Inhibitory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using cTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

TMS sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the vertex

Excitatory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using iTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Healthy controls

Group of healthy controls

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Inhibitory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using cTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

TMS sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the vertex

Excitatory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using iTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Virtual Reality

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to manipulate the perception of symptoms of patients while they are playing a game in virtual/augmented reality.

FND Patients Comparator

Group of patients with functional neurological disorders

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Inhibitory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using cTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Psychoeducation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will learn about the symptoms and how to cope with the symptoms

TMS sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the vertex

Excitatory TMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using iTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Neurofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Neurofeedback training will be applied in patients while laying in an MRI scanner. Patients will play a game, which targets the sense of agency, and will receive a real-time feedback about their performance and brain activity. They will learn to self-regulate their performance on the game in order to increase brain activity relevant for the sense of agency.

Interventions

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Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy

MBSR Therapy is a structured 8-week program that employs mindfulness meditation to alleviate suffering associated with physical, psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders. The program is based upon a systematic procedure to develop enhanced awareness of moment-to-moment experience of perceptible mental processes.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Inhibitory TMS

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using cTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Psychoeducation

Participants will learn about the symptoms and how to cope with the symptoms

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

TMS sham

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the vertex

Intervention Type DEVICE

Excitatory TMS

The device will be used to neuromodulate the right TPJ of participants' brain using iTBS stimulation protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Virtual Reality

The device will be used to manipulate the perception of symptoms of patients while they are playing a game in virtual/augmented reality.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback training will be applied in patients while laying in an MRI scanner. Patients will play a game, which targets the sense of agency, and will receive a real-time feedback about their performance and brain activity. They will learn to self-regulate their performance on the game in order to increase brain activity relevant for the sense of agency.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Patients:

* A diagnosis of a functional disorder (such as FND, GTS, PPD, anxiety or depression or others) according to DSM-5 diagnostic and ICD-11 criteria, or
* A diagnosis of an organic neurological disorder such as stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromuscular, or movement disorder
* Aged \> 16 years old
* Willing to participate in the study (by signing the ICF)
* Capable of judgement

healthy controls:

* Aged \> 16 years old
* Willing to participate in the study (by signing the ICF)
* Capable of judgement

Exclusion Criteria

* Presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, current major and severe depression episode, autistic spectrum disorder
* Past surgery in the brain
* History of alcohol or drug abuse
* Botulinum toxin injection in last 3 month
* Inability to follow the procedure of the study, e.g., due to language problems
* For organic disorders only: Active severe aphasia, dementia, neglect and acute confusional state, severe pain
* For female participants: breastfeeding, pregnancy or intention to become pregnant (assessed with standard urine test prior to the enrolment in the experiment and before each visit)
* For MRI and TMS part only: Past surgery in the brain
* For MRI and TMS part only: Implanted medical devices not-compatible with MRI or TMS (e.g., cochlear implants, infusion pumps, neurostimulators, cardiac pacemakers)
* For TMS part only: History of actual or suspected epilepsy
* For TMS part only: Suspected or diagnosed labile or hypertensive blood pressure
* For Virtual Reality only: No cybersickness
Minimum Eligible Age

17 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Fribourg

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Selma Aybek, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Fribourg

Locations

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University of Fribourg

Fribourg, , Switzerland

Site Status

Countries

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Switzerland

Other Identifiers

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2020-02283

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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