tDCS and Urge in BFRBs
Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Repetitive Compulsive Behavior
In brief
The goal of this study is to find out if brain stimulation can help people stop skin-picking or nail-biting. The study wants to answer two main questions: 1. Does brain stimulation reduce the urge to pick skin or bite nails after those urges are triggered? 2. Does brain stimulation reduce how often people pick their skin or bite their nails? Participants will: * Talk about their skin-picking, nail-biting, and other mental health concerns * Be placed in situations that make them want to pick or bite * Rate how strong their urges are before and after brain stimulation Researchers will compare real brain stimulation to a placebo (a fake version that looks the same but has no effect) to see if the real stimulation works to reduce skin-picking and nail-biting urges and behaviors.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07019571
- Run by
- Gopalkumar Rakesh
- People needed
- 55
- Starts
- 2025-07-08
- Expected to finish
- 2026-05-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-07-23
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Ability to provide informed consent (as established by clinical interview), and voluntary, signed informed consent prior to the performance of any study specific
- Ability and willingness to perform study-relevant clinical assessments and tDCS
- Endorses mild to extreme intensity of urges to pick or bite their skin or nails
You may not qualify if…
- Any unstable medical, psychiatric, or neurological condition (including active or otherwise problematic suicidality) that may necessitate urgent treatment
- Daily use of psychotropic medications that substantially lower seizure threshold (e.g., clozapine)
- History of psychosis, mania, major neurological disorder, significant head trauma, or seizures/epilepsy
- Current suicidal intent
- Any major neurological disease or history of major head trauma, including concussion with extended loss of consciousness, or of psychosurgery
- Current or suspected pregnancy
- Endorsing possible contraindications for tDCS
Where it is running
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, Kentucky, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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