Could a tiny zap to the head beat anxiety? military tests new device
NCT ID NCT05887713
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether a device called CES (cranial electrotherapy stimulation) can reduce anxiety symptoms in 200 active-duty military members and their families. Participants receive either real CES or a sham (placebo) device to see if the gentle electrical pulses truly help. The goal is to find a safe, drug-free way to improve mental health and military readiness.
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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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200 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
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 years and older
- 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.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
\*\*Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study\*\* Inclusion Criteria: * Active Duty and DoD Beneficiaries aged 18 or older * Threshold Generalized Anxiety symptoms based on MINI scoring and GAD-7 score of 10 or higher Exclusion Criteria: * Bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, manic depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, binge eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder, gender dysphoria (transgender is not an exclusion unless subject meets DSM-5 criteria for gender dysphoria), dementia, mental or other health disorders that prevent subjects from adhering to treatment.This will be verified by patient report or by chart review. * Subjects taking anti-psychotic medications including but not limited to; risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, paliperidone, aripiprazole and clozapine. * Subjects taking any seizure medications (ex: Dilantin) * Subjects who use nicotine in any form: Cigarettes, Vape pens, chewing tobacco, tobacco pouches, patches, gum. * Subjects with medical implant devices such as pacemakers or any device contraindicated for CES treatment. * Subjects who have started, altered, or discontinued use of any anti-depressant or anxiolytic in the past four weeks (including any medication in the following classes; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors \[SSRI\], serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors \[SnRI\], Wellbutrin, beta blockers specifically taken for anxiety, monoamine oxidase inhibitors \[MAOI\], tricyclic antidepressants \[TCA\], benzodiazepenes). * Pregnancy * Current or previous use of a CES device. * Experimental or clinical brain stimulation such as deep brain stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation for any indication (current or past 3 months). * Psychotherapy for anxiety based on exposure therapy (current or past 6 weeks) * Seizure disorder (current or history). History of febrile childhood seizures is allowed. * Higher than low suicide risk on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS). * Known cardiac arrythmias * Anything that would make participation in the study unsafe or medically unadvisable in the assessment of a study clinician.
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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
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Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, 89191, United States
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