Effect of tDCS Timing on Safety Memory in PTSD

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: PTSD

In brief

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of tDCS timing on extinction memory in PTSD. A total of 90 participants will be randomized equally across one of three groups: 1. One group receiving active stimulation during extinction followed by sham stimulation during consolidation 2. One group receiving sham stimulation during extinction followed by active stimulation during consolidation 3. One group receiving sham stimulation both during extinction and consolidation This study also includes an online sub-study (Aim 2) focused on contextual processing along the PTSD spectrum. The online study tests if there is an association between threat and non-threat learning in contextual and non-contextual situations. A maximum of 500 participants will be recruited using an online, panel-based platform.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04152772

Run by

Butler Hospital

People needed

62

Starts

2019-11-22

Expected to finish

2024-01-31

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-21

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Primary diagnosis of PTSD, assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-5 (SCID);
• aged 18-70;
• ability to speak, read, write, and understand English sufficiently well to complete study procedures and provide informed consent;
• Stable psychiatric medication use or treatment for at least 6 weeks.

You may not qualify if…

• Lifetime history of psychotic or bipolar disorder;
• Current moderate or severe substance use disorder; if mild, not under the influence at time of study participation;
• Acute suicidal or homicidal ideation as detected on screening instruments or in the investigator team's opinion, is likely to attempt suicide within 6 months;
• current (or past) significant neurological disorder, injury, or other intracranial pathology including severe traumatic brain injury or lifetime history of a) seizure disorder b) primary or secondary CNS tumors c) stroke or d) cerebral aneurysm;
• lifetime history of moderate or, current unstable medical conditions;
• Any problems that would interfere with study participation, including MRI- or tDCS-related contraindications (e.g., implanted metallic devices/substances, metallic tattoos, pregnancy, claustrophobia, holes in the skull, skin abnormalities under stimulation sites), or indication of colorblindness, or presence of any other condition or circumstance that, in the opinion of the investigator team, has the potential to prevent study completion and/or inability to schedule visit days within the allotted time, and/or to have a confounding effect on outcome assessments.

Where it is running

• Butler Hospital — Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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