Effects of Stellate Ganglion Block in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

NCT05391971 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 79

Last updated 2026-04-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study will enroll patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Following an initial screening visit, clinical assessment, and enrollment, subjects will be randomized into treatment and placebo arms. Both cohorts will undergo a pre-intervention functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of their brain. Treatment subjects will receive unilateral two-level stellate ganglion block via ultrasound-guided injection of anesthetic (bupivacaine) into the cervical sympathetic tissue; placebo subjects will receive an identical volume of saline via the same procedures.

At approximately 4 weeks post-procedure, both cohorts will then undergo a post-intervention clinical assessment. Finally, both cohorts will undergo a post-intervention fMRI of their brain.

Conditions

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

DRUG

Bupivacaine

At the C6 level, a total of 7cc of 0.5% bupivacaine will be injected slowly at this level, with negative aspiration every 2cc. The same procedure will be repeated at the C4 level directed towards the upper cervical ganglion ventral to the longus colli muscle with a total of 3cc of 0.5% bupivacaine.

DRUG

Saline

At the C6 level, a total of 7cc of saline control will be injected slowly at this level, with negative aspiration every 2cc. The same procedure will be repeated at the C4 level directed towards the upper cervical ganglion ventral to the longus colli muscle with a total of 3cc of saline control.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Paul Glimcher, PhD · NYU Langone Health

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-08-01
Primary Completion
2026-06-30
Completion
2026-06-30
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

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 NCT05391971 on ClinicalTrials.gov