Remote Electrical Stimulation for Pain and Depression Treatment in Cirrhosis

NCT ID: NCT06932783

Last Updated: 2025-07-30

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-22

Study Completion Date

2027-07-31

Brief Summary

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This study is being done to better understand how the study team can treat pain for people with cirrhosis and depression.

Enrolled participants on this feasibility study will be randomized to Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) or sham TEA.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Cirrhosis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either TEA or sham-control. At least half of the participants will have depression per study definition.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Participants will have a two-week run-in period and then 8 weeks of treatment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participant will apply TEA at home twice a day (approximately 45 minutes am/pm) for 8 weeks. The top electrode will be placed at ST36 (via acupuncture point) and the electrode patch will be placed vertically.

Additionally, participants will agree to allow medical records to be collected, complete various surveys and have follow-up after treatment (approximately 9-10 weeks).

TEA Sham

Participants will have a two-week run-in period and then 8 weeks of sham treatment.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participant will apply sham TEA at home twice a day (approximately 45 minutes am/pm) for 8 weeks. Sham TEA will be performed via one point on the leg and not on any meridian or acupoints that were used in previous gastrointestinal studies and did not yield any significant effects.

Additionally, participants will agree to allow medical records to be collected, complete various surveys and have follow-up after treatment (approximately 9-10 weeks)

Interventions

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Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Participant will apply TEA at home twice a day (approximately 45 minutes am/pm) for 8 weeks. The top electrode will be placed at ST36 (via acupuncture point) and the electrode patch will be placed vertically.

Additionally, participants will agree to allow medical records to be collected, complete various surveys and have follow-up after treatment (approximately 9-10 weeks).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Participant will apply sham TEA at home twice a day (approximately 45 minutes am/pm) for 8 weeks. Sham TEA will be performed via one point on the leg and not on any meridian or acupoints that were used in previous gastrointestinal studies and did not yield any significant effects.

Additionally, participants will agree to allow medical records to be collected, complete various surveys and have follow-up after treatment (approximately 9-10 weeks)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of cirrhosis - must meet the criteria as outlined in the protocol
* Chronic pain (Patient self-reports ≥ 4 on the 0-10 scale for \>50% of days within 3- months)
* Depression (in at least half of participants) - must meet the criteria as outlined in the protocol
* English speaking
* Willing to use a Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation device

Exclusion Criteria

* Dementia and/or severe cognitive impairment
* Unable or unwilling to provide consent
* Expected to undergo liver transplant in next 24 weeks
* No email address
* Deemed unsuitable by the study investigator
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Michigan

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Elliot B. Tapper

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Elliot Tapper, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Michigan

Locations

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University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Tasnuva Tarannum

Role: CONTACT

734-232-4182

Samantha Nikirk

Role: CONTACT

734-232-4182

Facility Contacts

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Melanie Herschel

Role: primary

734-232-4182

Other Identifiers

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HUM00269546

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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