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The Impact of Beta-band Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Impulse Inhibition in Adolescents With Non-suicidal Self-injury

NCT07152925 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2025-09-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This clinical trial aims to determine whether beta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve impulse inhibition in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and to evaluate its safety. The primary questions it seeks to answer are:

* Can beta-band tACS significantly reduce the frequency of self-injury and scores on impulsivity scales in adolescents with NSSI?
* What discomfort or medical issues may participants experience during tACS intervention?

Researchers will compare beta-band tACS with sham stimulation (a procedure that mimics the real stimulation without delivering effective current) to verify its efficacy.

Participants will:

* Receive two sessions of either tACS or sham stimulation daily, spaced 4 hours apart, for 7 consecutive days (14 sessions in total).
* Undergo scale assessments, behavioral tasks, and eye-tracking tests before and after the intervention.
* Record any self-injury episodes and adverse reactions, with continuous monitoring and psychological support provided by a professional team.

Conditions

  • Depression Disorders
  • Non-suicidal Self-injury

Interventions

DEVICE

Beta-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation

Active beta-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation: 20 Hz tACS delivered through a 4×1-ring high-definition electrode montage centered on left DLPFC (F3), 2 mA peak-to-peak, 100 % intensity, gradually ramped up over 30 s, maintained for 20 min, then ramped down over 30 s; two sessions per day with at least 4 h between sessions, repeated for 7 consecutive days (14 total sessions).

DEVICE

sham beta-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation

Sham transcranial alternating current stimulation: identical 4×1-ring high-definition electrode montage centered on left DLPFC (F3), 2 mA peak-to-peak current ramped up over 30 s and immediately ramped down to 0 mA, followed by 19.5 min of no stimulation to match the 20-min session duration of active tACS; delivered twice daily (≥4 h apart) for 7 consecutive days (14 total sessions).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Anhui Medical University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lei Zhang, doctor · School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-03-01
Primary Completion
2026-05-31
Completion
2026-05-31

Countries

  • China

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 NCT07152925 on ClinicalTrials.gov