Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment for Warriors Experiencing Chronic Pain
CompletedNot applicableNCT05254379
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov Recruiting status changes often. Contact the study team listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, and talk to your doctor before joining a study.
This study has no listed site in Canada in this snapshot. It is included as part of the worldwide chronic pain corpus.
Brief summary (from the registry)
The Veteran population has been known to deal with co-morbid chronic pain and PTSD. As a result, they use healthcare services at a higher rate than those Veterans with pain or PTSD alone which leads to an amplified burden on healthcare systems. tDCS is a painless brain stimulation treatment that uses direct electrical currents (at a constant, low-intensity level) to stimulate specific parts of the brain and help modulate neuronal activity. This study hypothesizes that our short-term therapy-focused treatment program coupled with tDCS administrations will aid in the reduction of chronic pain and PTSD symptoms. Secondly, the investigators intend to examine any relationships between BDNF reduction in reported pain and PTSD and related mental health symptoms. Subjects will be identified from the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program (EHVP-IOP) Veterans and Service members seeking psychiatric treatment for mental health issues including PTSD.
Study details
- Official title
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment for Warriors Experiencing Chronic Pain (tDCS for Warriors)
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Interventions
- Sponsor
- Emory University
- Collaborators
- Wounded Warrior Project
- Start date
- 2022-03-02
- Primary completion
- 2025-05-31
- Sex
- All
- Age range
- from 18 Years to 89 Years
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Countries
- United States
- Total sites listed
- 1
Eligibility criteria
Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or Female, 18 -89 years old * Treated on site for EHVP IOP * For long-term follow-up, must live in Georgia or Florida * Eligible for EHVP-IOP PTSD or Unified Protocol tracks * Willing to self-administer tDCS and complete the measures * DVPRS pain intensity of 4 or more for most of the day at least 3 days per week * Have an established PCP (Primary Care Provider) or pain management provider Exclusion Criteria: * Implanted pacemaker * Seizure Disorder * Pregnancy, if applicable * Any new onset of the following: * Balance problems * Difficulty walking * Bladder incontinence * Bowel incontinence * Numbness * Tingling * Weakness * Medical contraindications: * Current use of sodium channel blockers * Lidocaine (OTC/transdermal delivery is ok) * Mexiletine * Amitriptyline; other tricyclic antidepressants * Anti-epileptic medications * Phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, rufinamide, lacosamide and eslicarbazepine acetate * Current use of calcium channel blockers * Current use of N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists * Ketamine * Dextromethorphan * Felbamate * History of brain surgery * History of brain tumor * History of seizure disorder * History of stroke * Intracranial metal implantation * Adults unable to consent * Individuals who are not yet adults * Prisoners * Non-English speaking
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05254379