Wrist zap may tame tics: electrical pulses tested as Drug-Free option
NCT ID NCT05269953
First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether rhythmic electrical pulses delivered to the wrist (median nerve stimulation) can reduce tics and the urge to tic in people with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder. Participants wear a portable device for 15 minutes at a time over four weeks. The study compares active stimulation to a sham (placebo) condition and to no stimulation, using questionnaires, interviews, and video recordings to measure changes in tic severity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- median nerve stimulation (MNS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a safe, portable, drug-free option to reduce tics and urges in people with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage trial comparing active stimulation to a sham (placebo) condition. The effect may be modest or not last beyond the stimulation period.
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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
-
Sir Colin Campbell Building
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 2TU, United Kingdom
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Sound waves aimed at the brain could quiet tics without surgery
- Brain training shows promise for tic control in teens