Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation: Piloting a Road to PTSD Prevention in First Responders

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Adults, Firefighters

In brief

The goal of this study is to test whether active duty firefighters find it possible and suitable to do cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) at home, and test whether CES influences measures of depression and posttraumatic stress. The main questions it aims to answer are: * is CES feasible and acceptable in a population of firefighters, and * does CES changes symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression as well as feelings of anxiety, and fatigue in firefighters. Participants will * complete four weeks of CES at home, and * complete daily assessments of affect and fatigue, and * complete self-reported symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress before and after four weeks of CES at home Participants maybe asked to * complete an MRI scan before and after four weeks of CES at, and * wear a device to measure their heart rate and sleep quality.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06203717

Run by

Butler Hospital

People needed

13

Starts

2024-04-29

Expected to finish

2025-06-03

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 56. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Active duty firefighter in Rhode Island, USA;
• Age between 18 and 56 years old;
• Be in good medical health or, if having chronic medical conditions, these conditions needed to be stable;
• Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English sufficiently well to complete study procedures and provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• MRI and CES-related contraindications, e.g., implanted metallic device or substances including pacemakers, cochlear implant, metallic tattoos, claustrophobia, pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during the study duration and nursing;
• Neurological conditions such as brain neoplasm, cerebrovascular events, epilepsy or history of seizures, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders, or had previously received brain surgery;
• Report presence of suicidal ideation on QuickSCID-5 or has attempted suicide one or more times within the past twelve months;
• Exhibiting a psychiatric condition that would require inpatient or partial psychiatric hospitalization;
• Current moderate or severe alcohol or other substance abuse (excluding nicotine);
• Major or unstable medical illness requiring further investigation or treatment.

Where it is running

• Butler Hospital — Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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