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LIFU Mechanisms for PTSD in Healthcare Workers

NCT07164105 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 66

Last updated 2026-04-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) of the ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) can normalize dysfunctional brain activation patterns and behaviors in frontline healthcare workers with post-traumatic stress disorder. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does LIFU of the vACC effect activity and connectivity of the vACC and amygdala?
* Does LIFU of the vACC reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms? Researchers will compare LIFU to sham modulation to see if LIFU modulates activity of vACC-amygdala circuitry and affects threat sensitivity and emotion regulation.

Participants will:

* Complete two fMRI sessions (before and after LIFU)
* Receive a single session of LIFU or sham modulation of the vACC
* Wear a wearable device that tracks sleep and heart rate metrics

Conditions

  • PTSD and Trauma-related Symptoms

Interventions

DEVICE

Low intensity focused ultrasound

Low intensity focused ultrasound neuromodulation of the ventral anterior cingulate cortex

DEVICE

Sham modulation

Low intensity focused ultrasound with a Sorbothane membrane cover to prevent acoustic energy transmission

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-12-29
Primary Completion
2028-08-31
Completion
2028-08-31

Countries

  • United States

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 NCT07164105 on ClinicalTrials.gov