Study of Chemosensory Enhancement Through Neuromodulation Training (SCENT for Long COVID)
Recruiting now · Phase 2/Phase 3 · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Smell Dysfunction, Olfactory Disorder, Long COVID
In brief
Persistent smell loss that can include diminished or distorted smell function is a common symptom of long COVID syndrome. There are limited treatment options for long COVID-related smell loss. This study aims to determine the efficacy of two at-home treatments, smell training and non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation. This study requires participants to conduct daily at-home treatment sessions, attend three in-person study visits at the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and complete electronic questionnaires over the 12-week trial, and again at the six-month timepoint. Participants in this trial may benefit directly with an improvement in sense of smell. However, participation may also help society more generally, as this study will provide new information about long COVID-related smell loss and its treatment.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT05855369
- Run by
- Medical University of South Carolina
- People needed
- 145
- Starts
- 2023-10-02
- Expected to finish
- 2028-05-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-04-02
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- treatment-seeking for COVID-related persistent SL (anosmia, hyposmia, phantosmia or parosmia)
- at least 1-month from SARS-coV-2 PCR-positive and/or rapid home-positive tests
- normal sense of smell prior to COVID
- naïve to both smell training (ST) and trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS)
- able to comprehend English and provide informed consent
You may not qualify if…
- history of head injury (e.g. sport, accident, combat blast)
- sinonasal condition (e.g. upper respiratory infection, rhinosinusitis, polyps)
- neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorder, narcolepsy)
- serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar, or other psychotic disorder)
- suicidal ideation within the last month
- current (≤6 months) heavy cigarette smoker (heavy defined as ≥ 10 pack-years)
- oral/nasal steroids or other intranasal medications within the last month
- immunomodulatory medications
- pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Where it is running
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, South Carolina, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.