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Zapping away pain: brain stimulation device tested in veterans

NCT ID NCT05254379

Symptom relief Sponsor: Emory University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a painless brain stimulation technique called tDCS could help veterans suffering from chronic pain, PTSD, and depression. 38 veterans received tDCS sessions during an intensive outpatient program. Researchers measured changes in pain levels and mental health symptoms to see if the treatment provided relief.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-drug, brain-based option to ease chronic pain and PTSD symptoms in veterans.
What could go wrong
This was a small, early study with only 38 participants and no control group, so results may not be reliable or apply to everyone. The effects may be short-lived.

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

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

38 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Mar 2022

Finished

May 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 89 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

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

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or Female, 18 -89 years old * Treated on site for EHVP IOP * For long-term follow-up, must live in Georgia or Florida * Eligible for EHVP-IOP PTSD or Unified Protocol tracks * Willing to self-administer tDCS and complete the measures * DVPRS pain intensity of 4 or more for most of the day at least 3 days per week * Have an established PCP (Primary Care Provider) or pain management provider Exclusion Criteria: * Implanted pacemaker * Seizure Disorder * Pregnancy, if applicable * Any new onset of the following: * Balance problems * Difficulty walking * Bladder incontinence * Bowel incontinence * Numbness * Tingling * Weakness * Medical contraindications: * Current use of sodium channel blockers * Lidocaine (OTC/transdermal delivery is ok) * Mexiletine * Amitriptyline; other tricyclic antidepressants * Anti-epileptic medications * Phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, rufinamide, lacosamide and eslicarbazepine acetate * Current use of calcium channel blockers * Current use of N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists * Ketamine * Dextromethorphan * Felbamate * History of brain surgery * History of brain tumor * History of seizure disorder * History of stroke * Intracranial metal implantation * Adults unable to consent * Individuals who are not yet adults * Prisoners * Non-English speaking

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Chronic Pain chronic pain syndrome Depression depressive disorder post-traumatic stress disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Chronic pain Depression Post traumatic stress disorder PTSD

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Emory Division of Psychiatry

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.