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Remotely Administered tDCS for Cognitive Function in Veterans with mTBI and PTSD

This study is looking at whether a treatment called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can help improve thinking skills in Veterans who have both a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many Veterans with these conditions experience problems with memory, attention, and multitasking. tDCS is a way to stimulate brain activity without surgery. In this study, you would receive either active tDCS or a sham (inactive) tDCS, along with cognitive training exercises using a mobile app called BrainHQ. Researchers will measure your thinking skills before, right after, and two months after the treatment to see if it helps. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 46 participants.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial, meaning participants are randomly assigned to receive either the active treatment or a sham treatment. It plans to enroll 46 participants.
What's involved
You would receive tDCS and cognitive training for 20 minutes per day for 10 weekdays, all done remotely from home. You will also have cognitive tests at three different times.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your cognitive function will be measured two months after the treatment is completed.

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

NCT07414537

Remotely Administered tDCS to Improve Cognitive Function in Veterans With mTBI and PTSD Principal Investigator

Not Yet Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 20–75InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~46 participants
Updated 2026-02-17 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)Cognitive training

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
NIH Toolbox Fluid Composite score
Measured over Pre- and post-intervention (immediate and 2 months)

Conditions

Cognition
Brain Injuries
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Explore related trials

Cognitive DysfunctionPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderTraumatic Encephalopathy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Study leadership

  • Kelly L Sloane, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA

Who to contact

Kelly L Sloane, PhD
[email protected]
(215) 823-5800
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

History of chronic mTBI as measured by Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method
mTBI occurred \> 5 years prior to study enrollment
History of PTSD with symptoms within the last month as confirmed PTSD Checklist (past month) score greater than or equal to 33,
Cognitive impairment as defined by telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment \< 19
No history of reported or documented age-related or neurodegenerative condition
Access to internet for 1 hour per day
Willing and able to comply with all study related procedures and capable of independently reading and understanding study materials and providing informed consent.

Exclusion

Skin lesions at the stimulation site that may increase conductance
Metallic objects in the face or head (e.g. braces, fillings, implants)
Pregnancy/lactation or planning to become pregnant during study
History of other significant neurological disorders including seizure disorder, central nervous system tumors, stroke, cerebral aneurysm
History of primary psychotic disorder, bipolar I disorder, active substance use disorder (moderate or greater, measured by Drug Abuse Screening Test-10)
Active suicidal intent or plan, measured by Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Other conditions or circumstances that, in the opinion of investigator team, have the potential to prevent completion and/or have a confounding effect on outcome assessments.
Unable to tolerate 2mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

What this trial measures

  • NIH Toolbox Fluid Composite scorePre- and post-intervention (immediate and 2 months)

    The NIH Toolbox Fluid Composite score consists of Dimensional Change Card Sort, Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention, Picture Sequence Memory, List Sorting Working Memory, and Pattern Comparison. Normative data have been recently updated (in 2021) to reflect population demographics in terms of age, biological sex, race/ethnicity, education and geography and each test yields t-scores metrics corrected for age and other demographic characteristics (education, sex, race/ethnicity). Scores range between 0 and 100 with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.