Study Results
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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RECRUITING
NA
160 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2022-04-05
2026-12-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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The investigators will recruit 80 healthy subjects and 80 patients with PTSD in a randomized, double-blind, controlled design, where they be randomly assigned to 1) Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) at individual alpha peak frequency (active condition); 2) sham control tACS; or 3) active control, which will be transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) (random frequency 1-200 Hz). During tACS/sham tACS/tRNS stimulation, stimulation electrodes will be placed inside the holders of an EEG cap attached to the head of the participant. Simultaneous EEG- fMRI recordings during the resting state (in experiment 1a) and during a novelty task (in experiment 1b) will be acquired before and after tACS/tRNS stimulation.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
A weak electrical current will be passed through the scalp over targeted cortical regions via a transcranial electrical stimulation system (Soterix Medical, Inc), for a span of 10 to 40 minutes at a time. Participants will receive a 2 milliamp (mA) sinusoidal current oscillating at individual participants' baseline peak alpha frequencies (PAF; 7-13 Hz), which will be determined by a 3-min resting state EEG recording during the setup. Current intensities will be modified to address individual participants' subjective reports of discomfort, with a maximum intensity of 2 mA. Stimulation electrodes will be placed within an EEG cap fitted over the participant's head.
Sham for Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Sham for Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Stimulation electrodes will be placed on the scalp, but no current will be passed. Stimulation electrodes will be placed within an EEG cap fitted over the participant's head.
Active Control - Transcranial Random Noise stimulation (tRNS)
Transcranial Random Noise stimulation (tRNS)
A weak electrical currents will be passed through the scalp over targeted cortical regions via a transcranial electrical stimulation system (Soterix Medical, Inc), for a span of 10 to 40 minutes at a time. Participants will receive a 2 mA sinusoidal current oscillating at random frequency (1-200 Hz). Current intensities will be modified to address individual participants' subjective reports of discomfort, with a maximum intensity of 2 mA. Stimulation electrodes will be placed within an EEG cap fitted over the participant's head.
Interventions
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Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
A weak electrical current will be passed through the scalp over targeted cortical regions via a transcranial electrical stimulation system (Soterix Medical, Inc), for a span of 10 to 40 minutes at a time. Participants will receive a 2 milliamp (mA) sinusoidal current oscillating at individual participants' baseline peak alpha frequencies (PAF; 7-13 Hz), which will be determined by a 3-min resting state EEG recording during the setup. Current intensities will be modified to address individual participants' subjective reports of discomfort, with a maximum intensity of 2 mA. Stimulation electrodes will be placed within an EEG cap fitted over the participant's head.
Sham for Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Stimulation electrodes will be placed on the scalp, but no current will be passed. Stimulation electrodes will be placed within an EEG cap fitted over the participant's head.
Transcranial Random Noise stimulation (tRNS)
A weak electrical currents will be passed through the scalp over targeted cortical regions via a transcranial electrical stimulation system (Soterix Medical, Inc), for a span of 10 to 40 minutes at a time. Participants will receive a 2 mA sinusoidal current oscillating at random frequency (1-200 Hz). Current intensities will be modified to address individual participants' subjective reports of discomfort, with a maximum intensity of 2 mA. Stimulation electrodes will be placed within an EEG cap fitted over the participant's head.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* With normal or corrected-to-normal vision and normal olfaction
* Between the ages of 18 and 50 years
* Meeting the tACS screening criteria (see List I below; e.g., lack of a serious head injury or loss of consciousness)
* Patients: Diagnosis of PTSD
* Patients: If taking psychotropic medications, medication stability in the past 2 months
* If having mild substance use disorder (for patients) or occasional substance use, abstention from use 48 hours before the experiment.
Exclusion Criteria
* Patients: Concurrent Axis I diagnosis (depression, anxiety, and mild substance use disorder are allowed given their high comorbidity with PTSD).
* Healthy controls: A history of diagnosis for a DSM-5 Axis I disorder or current use of psychoactive medications.
* Severe psychiatric instability or severe situational life crises, including evidence of being actively suicidal or homicidal, or any behavior that poses an immediate danger to self or others.
* History of head trauma with unconsciousness (\> 5 minutes)
* Report that they regularly drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day.
* Report that they are unable to abstain from substance use (including alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, amphetamines, narcotics, solvents, cocaine, hallucinogens, tranquilizers, barbiturates, etc.) or sleep medication for 48 hours before being scanned.
* Are on calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, nifedipine) or alpha-blockers (e.g., prazosin, terazosin) and are unable to stop these medications for a 48-hour period prior to scanning (to exclude the impact of these medications on the interpretation of fMRI/EEG).
* Failed Urine Drug Screening Test: A rapid urine screening test that utilizes monoclonal antibodies to detect elevated levels of specific drugs (including alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, etc.) in urine (iCup)
* Pregnancy based on urine test. The safety of MR systems has not been established for fetuses
* Having electrically, magnetically, or mechanically activated implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers), because the electromagnetic fields produced by the MR system may interfere with the operation of these devices.
18 Years
50 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NIH
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Wen Li
Associate professor
Principal Investigators
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Wen Li, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Locations
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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HSC-MS-23-1106 (study 1)
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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