Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Talk Therapy for PTSD in Military Personnel
This study is looking at whether combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a type of noninvasive brain stimulation, with Written Exposure Therapy (WET), a standard talk therapy for PTSD, can better help military service members and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a history of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). You would be randomly assigned to receive either active tDCS or a sham (inactive) tDCS, along with 5 weekly sessions of WET. Researchers will measure your PTSD symptoms using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) and other symptoms using the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) to see if the treatment helps. To join, you must be a U.S. military service member or veteran between 18 and 70 years old, have a PTSD diagnosis and a history of mild to moderate TBI, and be able to speak, read, and write in English.
- Study design
- This is a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study with 150 participants. You would be randomly assigned to one of two groups.
- What's involved
- You would complete a baseline assessment, then receive 5 weekly, 30-minute tDCS sessions and 5 weekly WET sessions. Your symptoms will be measured from baseline up to 6 months.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your symptoms will be measured from when you start the study up to 6 months later.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Combined With Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD in Military Personnel With TBI
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Casey Straud, PsyD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)Baseline to 6 months
The CAPS-5 is structured interview that assesses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders v5 (DSM-5) criteria for PTSD. Each item is rated on a severity scale ranging from 0 (Absent) to 4 (Extreme/incapacitating) and combines information about frequency and intensity for each of the 20 symptoms.Subscale scores are calculated by summing severity scores for items in the following PTSD symptom clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and hyperarousal. Scores ≥ 25 indicate a probable diagnosis of PTSD. Scores range from 0 to 80. Change in score will be reported.
- Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI)Baseline to 6 months
The NSI consists of 22 non-specific complaints commonly reported after concussion and is used by clinicians to quantify TBI symptom severity and select symptoms for treatment. The NSI asks the patient to rate each of the symptoms according to how much the symptom has disturbed him/her using a five-point scale. Scores range from 0-88 with a higher score indicating more neurobehavioral symptoms