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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment for Warriors Experiencing Chronic Pain
Sponsor: Emory University
Summary
The Veteran population has been known to deal with co-morbid chronic pain and PTSD. As a result, they use healthcare services at a higher rate than those Veterans with pain or PTSD alone which leads to an amplified burden on healthcare systems. tDCS is a painless brain stimulation treatment that uses direct electrical currents (at a constant, low-intensity level) to stimulate specific parts of the brain and help modulate neuronal activity. This study hypothesizes that our short-term therapy-focused treatment program coupled with tDCS administrations will aid in the reduction of chronic pain and PTSD symptoms. Secondly, the investigators intend to examine any relationships between BDNF reduction in reported pain and PTSD and related mental health symptoms. Subjects will be identified from the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program (EHVP-IOP) Veterans and Service members seeking psychiatric treatment for mental health issues including PTSD.
Official title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment for Warriors Experiencing Chronic Pain (tDCS for Warriors)
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 89 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
38
Start Date
2022-03-02
Completion Date
2025-05-31
Last Updated
2026-08-21
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
tDCS
tDCS is a painless brain stimulation treatment that uses direct electrical currents (at a constant, low-intensity level) to stimulate specific parts of the brain and help modulate neuronal activity. Participants will receive a series of tDCS treatments during the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) coupled with blood and saliva collections. Participants will administer a stimulation session via the Soterix 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator, after being provided a single-use code to unlock the device by the research staff once proper contact quality is achieved. After the participant enters the unlock code, the screen on the device will show a timer that counts down the minutes until the end of the session. After 20 min, the device will turn off automatically and the study staff will instruct the participant to remove the headset and discard the sponges and to store safely all materials for the next session.
Locations (1)
Emory Division of Psychiatry
Atlanta, Georgia, United States