Modulating Impulsivity in Suicidal Adolescents With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Impulsive Behavior

In brief

As a first step toward investigating whether modulation of impulsivity and associated neural pathways may yield clinically meaningful changes in risk for adolescent suicidal behavior, the R21 is a proof-of concept study evaluating the potential for tDCS targeting brain regions associated with behavioral impulsivity (right inferior frontal gyrus \[rIFG\]) and cognitive impulsivity (left orbitofrontal cortex \[lOFC\]) to modulate these facets of impulsivity in a sample of adolescent suicide attempters. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive anodal tDCS over the rIFG, anodal tDCS over the lOFC, or a sham stimulation condition, in a three-group design. Task-based measures of behavioral and cognitive impulsivity will be administered before and after tDCS or sham stimulation. Additionally, electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) data will be collected during the impulsivity tasks, and resting-state EEG data will be collected pre- and post-tDCS administration to confirm engagement of the targeted brain regions and to delineating the neural pathways underlying the effects of tDCS on impulsivity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03365102

Run by

Lifespan

People needed

64

Starts

2017-04-01

Expected to finish

2019-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2022-02-02

Who can join

Age: 13 and older, up to 17. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• have attempted suicide prior to admission
• speak and read English fluently
• do not display evidence of significant cognitive impairment, based on a standard psychiatric exam as well as school records on admission
• are not actively psychotic at time of intake.

You may not qualify if…

• a significant general medical condition
• history of seizure, head injury, brain surgery or tumor
• intracranial metallic implants or implanted electrical devices
• substance abuse or dependence in the past six months.

Where it is running

• Bradley Hospital — Riverside, Rhode Island, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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