Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation in Burned Patients (CES)

February 19, 2013 updated by: United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Effect of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation on PTSD in Burned Outpatients

To find out if Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation is a useful treatment for people who have been burned and have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. CES may be helpful in giving relief to some or all of those symptoms.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this research study is to systematically determine if CES therapy is effective in managing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the burn patient. Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is the delivery of low-level electrical stimulation across the head, delivered with ear lobe electrode clips or self-adhesive electrode pads. CES in the current form has been used for the past 30 years to successfully treat anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain in a variety of patient populations. This FDA approved medical device is non-invasive and has no reported significant side effects. It will be used on patients undergoing outpatient rehabilitation in our burn center.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States, 78234
        • USAISR

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • burned patients requiring outpatient physical or occupational therapy in the USAISR Burn Rehabilitation Gym or Center for the Intrepid
  • Able to read and speak English
  • Between ages of 18-65 years
  • Screen positive (score greater than 44) on the PCL-M/C instruments

Exclusion Criteria:

  • pregnant patients
  • patients with implantable pacemakers or electronic stimulators
  • patients scoring below 44 on the PCL-M/C instrument
  • patients who previously used CES therapy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: A
Upon randomization, a double blinded Alpha Stim 100 device preset to the lowest effective setting (1/6) will be applied to the earlobes of the subject for one hour per day for 5 days per week for 4 weeks; after the blinded period is completed the patient will wear a different Alpha Stim device that has not been blinded for one hour per day for 5 days per week for 4 weeks, with settings at the patient's preference (1 to 6/6). Report of pain, anxiety will be assessed before and after each daily session during the 8 week period.
Device: Alpha Stim 100 (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation)
cranial electrical stimulation 100 microamps
Other Names:
  • Alpha Stim 100- Electromedical Products International, Inc
Experimental: B
Upon randomization, a double blinded Alpha Stim 100 device preset to no stimulation (0/6)will be applied to the earlobes of the subject for one hour per day for 5 days per week for 4 weeks; after the blinded period is completed the patient will wear a different Alpha Stim device that has not been blinded for one hour per day for 5 days per week for 4 weeks, with settings at the patient's preference (1 to 6/6). Report of pain, anxiety will be assessed before and after each daily session during the 8 week period.
Device: Alpha Stim 100 (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation)
cranial electrical stimulation 100 microamps
Other Names:
  • Alpha Stim 100- Electromedical Products International, Inc

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Post-Traumatic Stress Questionnaire-Military (PCL-M) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Subjects were asked to complete questionnaire three times during the course of study. Questions addressed symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). Scores can range from 17 to 85. A score >31 was used to identify symptomatic subjects and was therefore required at baseline for study enrollment.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Mean Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 Weeks, 8 Weeks
This 20-item questionnaire measures depressive symptoms. Scores can range from 0-60, with scores greater than 16 indicating need for further evaluation due to possible Major Depression.
Baseline, 4 Weeks, 8 Weeks
Mean Brief Profile of Mood States (BPOMS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
BPOMS is a tool used to qualitatively measure anxiety. Subjects were asked to evaluate 30 feelings that they may have had over the past week. Stress-associated feelings are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all)to 4 (extremely). Six of the feelings listed on the questionnaire are not associated with anxiety and therefore are not scored. Total scores range from 0-96, with higher scores indicating greater tension and anxiety.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Mean Visual Analogue Scale of Pain (VAS-P) Before and After Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES).
Time Frame: Blinded Period, Unblinded Period
Subjects were asked to evaluate their pain intensity before and after each daily CES or sham treatment. Responses were scored on a scale ranging from 0 (indicating no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).
Blinded Period, Unblinded Period
Mean Visual Analogue Scale of Anxiety (VAS-A) Before and After Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES).
Time Frame: Blinded Period, Unblinded Period
Subjects were asked to evaluate their anxiety level before and after each daily CES treatment. Responses were scored on a scale ranging from 0 (indicating no anxiety) to 10 (worst possible).
Blinded Period, Unblinded Period
Mean General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
The GSDS is a questionnaire used to qualitatively evaluate sleep. This 21-question tool evaluates each aspect of sleep and restfulness on a 0-7 score, indicating the number of days per week that each problem may be present. Total scores range from 0-147, with higher scores indicating more profound disturbances in sleep.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Kathryn Gaylord, RN, MSN, PhD, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 25, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 24, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 28, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 22, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 19, 2013

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • H-07-024

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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