Brain pacemaker tested for uncontrollable tics
NCT ID NCT01817517
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) could help people with severe Tourette syndrome whose symptoms don't improve with medication. Researchers placed tiny electrodes in a part of the brain called the thalamus to try to calm abnormal signals that cause tics. Only 2 people took part, and the study was stopped early, so we don't have clear answers yet.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- deep brain stimulation device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a treatment for severe Tourette syndrome that doesn't respond to medication.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very early, tiny study (only 2 people) that was terminated. DBS requires brain surgery and carries risks like infection or device problems. The FDA hasn't approved it for Tourette syndrome.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A common antidepressant may tame anxiety in kids with autism and ADHD — a trial puts it to the test
- Brain scans may reveal why behavioral therapy helps some teens with tics
- Can a dopamine-blocking drug safely control tourette syndrome over years?
- Mapping tic patterns could lead to personalized therapy for tourette syndrome
- Sound waves aimed at the brain could quiet tics without surgery
- Wrist zap may tame tics: electrical pulses tested as Drug-Free option