MedTrace Logo

Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Children With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

NCT06847165 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2025-07-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This is an open-label trial of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) for children aged 8-12 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) putatively due to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). TNS has been successful in treating pediatric ADHD generally and it is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared for this condition. But this will be the first time it is tried for ADHD specifically associated with PAE. In TNS, a weak electric current is applied to the child's forehead overnight while sleeping to gently stimulate the brain. TNS is administered at home by the parent to the child. TNS is safe and well tolerated. Efficacy of TNS in ADHD is \~50%. The purpose of the present pilot study is to determine the feasibility of TNS for children with PAE and ADHD. Feasibility means safety (any serious side effects?), tolerability (do children comply with TNS? are they comfortable with it?), and a rough idea of efficacy (does TNS seem to work in most kids?) A secondary goal of the study is to get a more precise idea of brain mechanisms of TNS with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Families who participate will make three clinic visits: eligibility (4-5 hours), pre-TNS (2-3 hours including MRI), and post-TNS (2-3 hours including MRI). Children will receive TNS, applied by the parent, for 8 hours every night while sleeping for 4 weeks. Four weeks after treatment, families will take part in a telephone follow-up, to see whether any improvements made last.

Conditions

  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Interventions

DEVICE

Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS)

In TNS, a weak electric current is applied to the child's forehead overnight while sleeping to gently stimulate the brain. TNS treatment is typically administered at home at bedtime by the parent to the child. The TNS device is small (size of a cell phone) and easy to use. Two thin wires go from the device to a pair of small electrodes that tape onto the forehead like a band-aid. The parent presses three keys on the device and it is ready to go.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Joseph O'Neill, PhD · UCLA Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
8 Years
Max Age
12 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-04-26
Primary Completion
2026-09-30
Completion
2026-09-30
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Companies

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 NCT06847165 on ClinicalTrials.gov