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Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression

Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for PTSD and Depression

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01335217
Enrollment
20
Registered
2011-04-14
Start date
2011-01-31
Completion date
2012-01-31
Last updated
2013-02-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Depression, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Brief summary

This is a 20-subject, dose finding study to examine the use of external trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) as an adjunctive treatment for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) co- occurring with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when added onto antidepressant medications. Our primary objective is the examination of TNS in this patient population. To accomplish our specific aims, the investigators will test the following specific hypotheses: 1. Subjects will show improvement in ratings of mood, PTSD, and other symptoms during the eight-week period. 2. Subjects will show improvement in ratings of life functional capacity and quality of life with TNS. 3. Subjects will report the TNS treatments to be acceptable in terms of side effects and burden of using the device.

Detailed description

A total of 20 subjects with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) co-occurring with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ages 18 to 75 years, will be consented and join this project at UCLA. The project will use TNS in under open-label conditions, using the same stimulation parameters as have been used in prior studies in MDD by itself and in treatment-refractory epilepsy. Subjects will be seen every two weeks during the 8 week study. At the end of the 8 weeks, the TNS systems will be returned and the adjunctive treatment will end. The co-primary endpoints are the changes in depression severity and in PTSD severity from enrollment to the week 8 visit.

Interventions

External trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) as an adjunctive treatment for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) co- occurring with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when added onto antidepressant medications

Sponsors

University of California, Los Angeles
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Outpatients with non-psychotic, unipolar Major Depressive Disorder AND Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, assessed via the MINI structured interview 2. A score of ≥ 14 on the HAM-D17 with Item 1 (depressed mood) ≥ 2 3. A score of ≥ 50 on the CAPS (Clinical-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV) 4. A history of treatment failure with at least one adequate trial of an antidepressant over the previous 6 weeks, with no change in antidepressant medication or dose within the previous 6 weeks, and ongoing use of at least one antidepressant (which will continue during participation in the study) 5. Age range: 18 to 75. 6) Patients with suicidal ideation are eligible only if the thoughts of death or of life not being worth living are not accompanied by a plan or intention for self-harm.

Exclusion criteria

1. Patient is mentally or legally incapacitated, unable to give informed consent. 2. Patients with psychosis (psychotic depression, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective diagnoses (lifetime)); bipolar disorder (lifetime); dementia (lifetime); delirium or any substance abuse disorder within the past 6 months; eating disorder within the past year; obsessive- compulsive disorder (lifetime); acute risk for suicide or self-injurious behavior. Patients with diagnostic uncertainty or ambiguity (e.g. rule-out pseudodementia of depression) will be excluded. 3. Patients with exposure to ECT or VNS within the past 6 months. 4. Past history of skull fracture; cranial surgery entering the calvarium; space occupying intracranial lesion; stroke, CVA, or TIAs; cerebral aneurysm; Parkinson's or Huntington's disease; or Multiple Sclerosis. 5. current pregnancy, breast feeding, plans to become pregnant in the 12-week treatment phase of the study, or not using a medically accepted means of contraception. 6. Other medical contraindications to any of the study procedures

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 ItemBaseline, week 8
Change in PTSD Checklist scoreBaseline, Week 8

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in life functional capacity and quality of life scalesbaseline, week 8Life functional capacity and quality of life scales include: Short-form Health Survey-36 Item and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire
Changes in vital signs recordingsAt every visit for 8 weeksAutonomic function (i.e. pulse and blood pressure) are monitored for 30 mins of stimulation at baseline. Resting vital signs are recorded for each visit.
Changes in Safety Assessment MeasuresAt every visit for 8 weeksSafety Assessment measures will be administered at each visit and include: Survey of Acceptability of TNS, Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Events-Systematic Inquiry (SAFTEE-SI), and Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Scale (FIBSER)

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026