Clinical Research Directory

Effects of taVNS Combined With tACS on Adolescents With Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

NSSI behavior is highly prevalent among adolescents, and its mechanisms are closely associated with attentional bias toward self-injury-related information and impulsivity, both of which may be related to reduced dlPFC activation levels. Introducing taVNS as a priming stimulus to pre-regulate brain state and optimize subsequent tACS treatment response provides a novel approach to addressing inconsistent intervention effects. Simultaneously, this facilitates a shift in the brain from passive stimulus reception to active state regulation, offering important theoretical foundations for developing more precise and efficient cross-modal neuromodulation therapies.This study aims to systematically validate the efficacy of a combined protocol using taVNS as a priming modality followed by tACS over the left dlPFC through a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The investigators hypothesize that: ① Compared to tACS intervention alone, this combined approach will not only demonstrate non-inferiority in overall therapeutic efficacy but, more importantly, significantly reduce inter-individual variability in treatment response to tACS. This would mitigate the issue of high clinical response heterogeneity and enhance the stability and predictability of treatment outcomes. ② Early behavioral biomarkers of intervention response are anticipated: Immediate improvements in attentional bias following a single combined intervention session will significantly predict reductions in the frequency and intensity of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) after a full course (14 sessions) of treatment. This suggests that early positive changes in cognitive function could serve as valid indicators predicting long-term clinical efficacy, offering a critical time window for implementing individualized treatment adjustments. ③ The study will elucidate the effects of the taVNS-primed combined tACS treatment on neuroimaging mechanisms in adolescents with NSSI.

The Impact of Beta-band Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Impulse Inhibition in Adolescents With Non-suicidal Self-injury

This clinical trial aims to determine whether beta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve impulse inhibition in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and to evaluate its safety. The primary questions it seeks to answer are: * Can beta-band tACS significantly reduce the frequency of self-injury and scores on impulsivity scales in adolescents with NSSI? * What discomfort or medical issues may participants experience during tACS intervention? Researchers will compare beta-band tACS with sham stimulation (a procedure that mimics the real stimulation without delivering effective current) to verify its efficacy. Participants will: * Receive two sessions of either tACS or sham stimulation daily, spaced 4 hours apart, for 7 consecutive days (14 sessions in total). * Undergo scale assessments, behavioral tasks, and eye-tracking tests before and after the intervention. * Record any self-injury episodes and adverse reactions, with continuous monitoring and psychological support provided by a professional team.

Effects of Psychiatric Admissions on Self-harm and Suicide in People With Borderline Personality Disorder

The current study aims to evaluate the impact of long (\>5 days) and/or compulsory psychiatric inpatient care on subsequent healthcare utilization for self-harm and suicide in people with borderline personality disorder, a condition characterized by frequent self-harm. The basis for this study is the diversity of clinical practices across Swedish regions. By categorizing clinics based on their practices with respect to long and/or compulsory psychiatric inpatient care, it is possible to explore the impact of these practices on subsequent somatic and psychiatric healthcare, including emergency care due to self-harm as well as on completed suicides. All psychiatric clinics across Sweden authorized to administer compulsory care for adults, totalling 78 clinics will be included. Each clinic per specific calendar year will represent one participant, identified by the clinic's name and the respective year (e.g., Umeå2010, Linköping2013, Malmö2022). Data collection will involve the utilization of the national registers to capture outcome measures and account for confounding factors. The participants will be ranked based on a composite variable, which includes the average number of days spent in inpatient compulsory care and other psychiatric inpatient care exceeding 5 days, among individuals diagnosed with BPD. The top quartile of participants will be compared with the bottom quartile.

Which Factors Are Relevant for Treatment Outcome in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder?

The objective of this project is to investigate factors that contribute to the success and lack of success in DBT among individuals with BPD and a history of self-harm in a clinical psychiatric setting. 1. Do certain personality factors and identity disturbance predict the treatment outcome of DBT in individuals with BPD? 2. Do changes in identity disturbance, self-hate, or emotion regulation mediate the treatment outcome of DBT in individuals with BPD? 3. Do specific personality profiles moderate the treatment outcomes of DBT for individuals with BPD? 4. When does the primary treatment effect occur, and does this effect persist after a 12-month follow-up period?