Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

In brief

This study effects the effects of transcutaneous cervical vagal nerve stimulation (tcVNS) or a sham control on brain, physiology, and PTSD symptoms in Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans undergo brain imaging and physiological measures in conjunction with traumatic scripts before and after three months of twice daily treatment with tcVNS or sham stimulation at home.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05517304

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

80

Starts

2022-10-01

Expected to finish

2027-11-10

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Veterans between the ages of 18 and 75 will be included with a diagnosis of PTSD based on DSM-5 criteria

You may not qualify if…

• Subjects will be excluded with:
• a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) based on VA Criteria
• moderate or greater TBI
• positive pregnancy test
• meningitis or other neurological disorder
• alcohol or substance abuse use disorder based on DSM-5 criteria within the past 12 months
• current or lifetime history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I disorder, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, based on DSM-5
• active suicidal ideation with a plan
• a history of serious medical or neurological illness, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurologic or other systemic illness that would preclude participation based on clinical judgment of the PI
• active opiate or benzodiazepine treatment
• history of structural abnormality on brain MRI or CT if one has been performed in the past

Where it is running

• Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA — Decatur, Georgia, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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