Research on the Effects of Combined Neurostimulation Protocols on Stress

November 29, 2021 updated by: University Ghent

The Effects of Preconditioning Theta Burst Stimulation With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Stress Regulation in Healthy Controls: a Double-blind Sham-controlled Study

The study examines the effects of the combined use of two different non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques targeting the DLPFC on stress reactivity and recovery.

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

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) will be combined with intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) in order to maximize the effects coming from each of the techniques on their own. A group of 74 healthy participants wil be submitted to two different stimulation protocols (sham tDCS + active iTBS and active tDCS + active iTBS) with one-week in between and results on stress reactivity will be examined. In order to improve therapeutic protocols, this study with healthy participants is a crucial first step in order to further conduct clinical studies with psychiatric samples.

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.
74

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.
  • Not Applicable

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

  • Belgium
      • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
        • University Hospital Ghent

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 45 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Aged between 18-45 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The presence of psychiatric disorders
  • Usage of psychotropic medication
  • Any or cardiovascular neurological condition
  • Personal or family history of epilepsy or other neurological disorders
  • Unstable medical condition, as well as chronic pain conditions, (such as fibromyalgia) or increased blood pressure
  • Eye disease(s)
  • Current substance abuse
  • Inner ear prosthesis
  • Any implanted electronic device susceptible for magnetic field radiation (e.g. pacemaker)
  • Any implanted metal device in the head region
  • Metal objects or magnetic objects in the brain or around the head (only removable earrings & piercing are allowed)
  • Recent neurosurgical interventions
  • Pregnancy
  • Skin problems in the head region
  • Recent fractures or wounds on the hand

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: OTHER
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
  • 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.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: active tDCS + active iTBS
Participants will receive 20 minutes of active tDCS, during the last 7 minutes active iTBS will be applied.
Device: active tDCS
A current of 2 milliampère (mA) through electrodes of 5x5cm.
Other Names:
  • active/anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Device: iTBS
54 cycles with 10 bursts of 3 pulses, train duration of 2 seconds and intertrain intervals of 6 seconds, results in 1620 pulses at 110% resting motor threshold.
Other Names:
  • intermittent theta burst stimulation
SHAM_COMPARATOR: sham tDCS + active iTBS
Participants will receive 20 minutes of sham tDCS, during the last 7 minutes active iTBS will be applied.
Device: iTBS
54 cycles with 10 bursts of 3 pulses, train duration of 2 seconds and intertrain intervals of 6 seconds, results in 1620 pulses at 110% resting motor threshold.
Other Names:
  • intermittent theta burst stimulation
Device: sham tDCS
Similar set-up as in the active tDCS, but stimulation is too short to cause any effects.
Other Names:
  • sham transcranial direct current stimulation

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
Changes in heart rate variability (HRV)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Variability in time between two heartbeats
Through study completion, an average of two weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in heart rate (HR)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Beats per minute
Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Changes in blood pressure (BP)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP)
Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Changes in electrodermal activity (EDA)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Peak amplitudes of Skin Conductive Responses (SCRs)
Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Changes in state-dependent mood
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Visual analogue scales (VAS): total scores will be reported (range 0 to 10) with higher scores indicating worse outcome
Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Changes in state-dependent ruminative thinking
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Brief State Rumination Inventory (BSRI): total scores will be reported (range 0 to 80) with higher scores indicating worse outcome
Through study completion, an average of two weeks
Changes in anxiety features - self-report
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of two weeks
State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): total scores will be reported (range 0 to 160) with higher scores indicating worse outcome
Through study completion, an average of two weeks

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.
University Ghent

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University Hospital, Ghent

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: Chris Baeken, MD, PhD, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent
  • Principal Investigator: Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt, PhD, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent
  • Principal Investigator: Stefaan Van Damme, PhD, University Ghent

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 (ACTUAL)

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.
October 29, 2018

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.
October 31, 2020

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.
October 31, 2020

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).
October 2, 2018

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.
October 25, 2018

First Posted (ACTUAL)

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.
October 26, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

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.
November 30, 2021

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.
November 29, 2021

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.
November 1, 2021

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.
  • EC/2018/0866

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data will be made public on the open science framework website.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

After study completion.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Open acces

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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