trauma- and stressor-related disorder
Conditions
Interventions
TACS is applied to the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at a
frequency of 5 Hz with an intensity of 2 mA (peak-to-peak) in the active tACS
group. In the control group (sham stimulati
Sponsors
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: - Age: 18 years or older - People with uniformed professions or post-active military veterans - Treatment with protocolized exposure-based therapy sessions for anxiety disorders or trauma- and stressor-related disorders (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, criteria), e.g. o Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure, among which prolonged exposure (PE) o Narrative exposure therapy (NET) o Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy - Willingness and ability to understand the nature and content of the study, to participate and to comply with the study requirements - Willingness and ability to give written informed consent - Provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: - Large metal or ferromagnetic objects in or around the head area, such as electronic hearing devices, cochlear implants, deep brain stimulators, or metal fragments near the skull (except for a dental wire). - Opened skull or trepanation - Pacemaker or neurostimulator - Medication pump - Epilepsy or family history of epilepsy - Severe neurological condition or (a history of) brain damage - Severe psychiatric condition comorbidity (e.g. schizophrenia, addiction) - Skin damage or diseases around the intended tACS electrode sites (e.g. psoriasis, eczema) - Concurrent or recent (within previous month) neuromodulation / neurostimulation (e.g., tDCS, TMS) treatment or study - Pregnancy or possible pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary study parameter is the stress response based on heart rate variability (HRV) and subjective units of distress (SUDs) during the exposure-based therapy sessions and subjective anxiety symptoms after the exposure-based therapy sessions. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary study parameters are PTSD symptom severity and the influence of various baseline measures: resting-state heart rate variability, theta electroencephalography (EEG) activity, emotional working memory, stress hormone response, sleep quality and various mental health variables. | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Contacts
Public ContactK Hendriks
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Outcome results
None listed