Zapping anxiety: head device shows promise for young adults with GAD
NCT ID NCT06124014
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a device called cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) for treating generalized anxiety disorder in 130 young adults aged 18-21. Participants used the device at home for 60 minutes daily over six weeks. The goal was to see if CES reduces anxiety symptoms compared to a sham (fake) device. Results may show whether this drug-free approach can help ease anxiety.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a drug-free option to ease anxiety symptoms in young adults with generalized anxiety disorder.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial, but results are not yet widely confirmed. The effect may be small or similar to a placebo, and it only tested people aged 18-21.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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130 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Finished
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Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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 21 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.
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.
Inclusion Criteria: * Capable of signing informed consent form. * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study including refraining from changes to treatment unless medically indicated and communicated to the study team. * Aged 18 - 21 at time of screening visit. * Diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). * At least mild-to-moderate symptom severity, as indicated by scores of 15 or higher on the clinician-administered HAM-A at the screening visit. * Concurrent psychiatric medications are allowed. Participants will be required to maintain a sable dose of medications, or remain medication free, for 2 weeks prior to the screening visit, except for antidepressants for which the period of stable dose is 4 weeks prior to screening visit. Concurrent psychotherapy is allowed. * People of reproductive potential must be willing to use effective contraception (evidence-based hormonal or barrier methods) for at least 1 month prior to the screening visit and agree to use such a method during study participation. Exclusion Criteria: Time-frames are determined relative to the screening visit. * Current (any) or previous (\> 7 stimulation sessions in last 6 weeks) use of a CES device. * Inability to tolerate the required minimum stimulation amplitude (200 uA) during the initial device training at the baseline visit. * Experimental or clinical brain stimulation such as deep brain stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation for any indication (current or within 60 days prior to screening visit). * Implanted medical device that uses electricity anywhere in the body. * Diagnosis (based on MINI) of bipolar I or II (past or current), moderate or severe alcohol use disorder (within 12 months prior to screening visit), moderate or severe (non-alcohol) substance use disorder (within 12 months prior to screening visit), psychotic disorder (current or lifetime), major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar I with psychotic features, anorexia nervosa. * Epilepsy (current or history). History of febrile childhood seizures and non-epileptic seizures are allowed. * Pregnant or breast-feeding. * Enrollment in clinical trial for any condition (current or within 60 days prior to screening visit). * Hospitalization for any reason (current or past 2 weeks). * Self-harming behaviors (current or within two years prior to screening visit). * Higher than low suicide risk on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). * Known cardiac abnormality or clinically significant heart disease. * 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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Carolina Center for Neurostimulation
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
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