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tDCS and CBI for Post-Surgery Pain

This study is looking at ways to reduce pain after total knee or hip replacement surgery. It's testing two interventions: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which uses a small electric current to stimulate parts of the brain, and a Cognitive-Behavioral (CB) intervention, which teaches coping strategies like relaxation. The study wants to see if using tDCS, the CB intervention, or both together can help veterans manage their pain. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 90 years old, are having total knee or hip replacement surgery, and can understand instructions. The main goal is to see how much opioid pain medication participants use 48 hours after surgery. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This study is a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled design with 132 planned participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups to receive either real or sham tDCS, combined with a real or control CB intervention.
What's involved
You would receive two tDCS/CBI treatments on the day of your surgery and two more the day after. Your pain and medication use will be tracked during your hospital stay.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
After your hospital stay, follow-up data on pain and opioid use will be collected at 1, 3, and 6 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04199780

Effects of tDCS Combined With CBI on Postsurgical Pain

Completed
NAAges 18–90InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~106 participants
Updated 2026-08-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcranial Direct Current StimulationCognitive-Behavioral (CB) intervention

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
postoperative opioid pain medication use
Measured over 48 hours

Conditions

Total Knee Arthroplasty (Postoperative Pain)
Total Hip Arthroplasty (Postoperative Pain)

Explore related trials

Total Knee ReplacementTotal replacement of hip

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
South Carolina1

Study leadership

  • Jeffrey J Borckardt, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Mentally capable of reading, writing, giving consent, and following instructions
Cleared for, and scheduled for unilateral TKA or THA surgery
Able to hear Cognitive-Behavioral (CB) intervention and understand educational materials through headphones in English

Exclusion

implanted medical devices above the waist
pregnant
history of seizures
allergic to latex rubber
psychiatric conditions except for depression and/or anxiety disorders (commonly seen in this population)

What this trial measures

  • postoperative opioid pain medication use48 hours

    Patient controlled analgesic medication usage (the morphine equivalent dose (MED); milligrams (mg) of morphine) during the acute 48-hour post-operative period following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA).