Shock therapy at home? new study hopes to sharpen focus in veterans with brain injury
NCT ID NCT06413173
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a safe, non-invasive brain stimulation technique (tDCS) that people can use at home while doing computer-based attention exercises. The goal is to see if it can improve complex attention in 160 active-duty service members and veterans who had a mild traumatic brain injury at least 3 months ago. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive real or sham stimulation, and their progress will be tracked with tests, brain scans, and questionnaires.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 160 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Active-Duty Service Members. 2. Ages 18 to 60. 3. All genders. 4. All racial and ethnic groups. 5. History of mild TBI (as defined by the DOD/VA criteria used in conjunction with the OSU TBI-ID) sustained at least 3 months and no more than 10 years prior to enrollment. 6. Self-reported attention and/or concentration difficulties. 7. At least one cognitive symptom reported on the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) cognitive subscale. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of a medical, psychiatric, physical or non-physical disease, disorder, condition, injury, disability or pre-existent history such that study participation, in the opinion of the PI: (a) may pose a significant risk to the participant; (b) raises the possibility that the participant is unlikely to successfully complete all of the requirements of the study according to the study protocol; or (c) might adversely impact the integrity of the data or the validity of the study results. Specific conditions include (but are not limited to) a history of: brain tumor, epilepsy, cerebral vascular accident (CVA), Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Mania. 2. History of prior treatment with ECT or neuromodulation in the last 12 months. 3. Current, diagnosed substance dependence. 4. Newly prescribed medication within the previous 3 weeks. 5. Diagnosis of intellectual disability or pervasive developmental disorder (i.e., premorbid IQ less than or equal to 70). 6. Any medical condition or treatment other than mild TBI (e.g., stroke, tumor, HIV, moderate-severe TBI), with significant neurological disorder or insults that, based on the Principal Investigator's judgment, would impact risk. 7. Psychosis or mania within 30 days of enrollment, as determined by the PI, based on a psychiatric history and examination and/or a review of available medical records 8. Contraindications for tDCS (e.g., metallic cranial plates/screws or implanted device, eczema or skin lesions on scalp) 9. A positive pregnancy report.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Minneapolis VA Health Case System
RECRUITINGMinneapolis, Minnesota, 55417, United States
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Naval Medical Center San Diego
RECRUITINGSan Diego, California, 92134, United States
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