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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Enhancement of Trauma-focused Therapy : a Two-arm Randomized Controlled Multicentric Study.

NCT02900053 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 63

Last updated 2025-12-26

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which there was the potential for or actual occurrence of grave physical harm. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, and military combat. People with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal, may experience sleep problems, feel detached or numb, or be easily startled. Its lifetime prevalence is quite high, with 7-8% in various studies and 4% in french studies.

The current PTSD treatment usually involves antidepressants as serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, such as exposure therapy to trauma-linked elements (memories, feelings and thoughts) so the fear associated to the traumatic event can decrease. But the therapeutic response stays partial, even combining these treatments.

To improve the PTSD treatment efficiency, innovative approaches are being explored like new drugs or cerebral stimulation. This project aims to assess the efficacy of a less known but promising therapeutic strategy for PTSD : the use of transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS) to enhance the trauma-focused therapy results.

Conditions

  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

DEVICE

tDCS

tDCS for transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation

DEVICE

Placebo tDCS

Placebo tDCS for transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Tours

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Jean-Baptiste Courtine, MD · CHRU TOURS

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-01-31
Primary Completion
2021-10-01
Completion
2021-10-01

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02900053 on ClinicalTrials.gov