tDCS for Traumatic Brain Injury

Phase 2

Waitlist Available

Led By Tasha M Nienow, PhD

Research Sponsored by Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up post-intervention, 8-9 weeks after baseline assessment

Summary

This trial aims to assess the effects of tDCS on patients with mild traumatic brain injury, identify biomarkers of treatment response, and measure acceptability/tolerability of the approach. EEGs will be used to measure neural efficiency before/after.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for veterans aged 18-65 who have had a mild traumatic brain injury over a year ago and are enrolled at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. It's not for those with psychotic disorders, recent substance use issues, severe depression, other cognitive impairments, or medical conditions that don't allow TDCS.

What is being tested?

The study tests if transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) can improve cognition in patients with mild traumatic brain injury. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either real TDCS or sham stimulation alongside working memory training.

What are the potential side effects?

Possible side effects of TDCS may include discomfort at the electrode site, itching or tingling during stimulation, headache, fatigue, nausea or dizziness. However, it's generally considered safe with minimal adverse effects.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ post-intervention, 8-9 weeks after baseline assessment

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~post-intervention, 8-9 weeks after baseline assessment

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and post-intervention, 8-9 weeks after baseline assessment for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-III Working Memory Index

Secondary study objectives

University of California Performance Based Skills Assessment

Other study objectives

Resting state electroencephalogram (EEG)

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Transcranial Direct Current StimulationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive 24 sessions (3 times a week) of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation concurrent with working memory training. Stimulation will be administered at 2 milliamps (mA) for 20 minutes over the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex.

Group II: ShamPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Participants will receive 24 sessions of working memory training. The experience of transcranial direct current stimulation will be simulated by administering 30 seconds of stimulation at the beginning of the session.

Do I qualify?Apply below to find out