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NCT04152772

Effect of tDCS Timing on Safety Memory in PTSD

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 21 October 2025
What this trial tests

NA trial testing transcranial direct current stimulation in PTSD in 62 participants. Completed in 31 January 2024.

Timeline
22 November 2019
Primary endpoint
31 January 2024
31 January 2024

Quick facts

Lead sponsorButler Hospital
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingtriple
Primary purposebasic science
Enrollment62
Start date22 November 2019
Primary completion31 January 2024
Estimated completion31 January 2024
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Butler Hospital

Who can join

Adults 18 to 70, any sex, with PTSD. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Skin Conductance Responses Primary · Study visit day 4: during administration of fear extinction memory.

Main protocol: Threat reactivity as quantified by skin conductance responses to a conditioned and subsequently extinguished stimulus versus a never conditioned stimulus.

GroupValue95% CI
Active tDCS During Extinction Learning Followed by Sham tDCS During Consolidation0.075± 0.025
Sham tDCS During Extinction Followed by Active tDCS During Consolidation0.088± 0.026
Sham tDCS During Extinction Followed by Sham tDCS During Consolidation0.057± 0.025

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: One day, following active tDCS or sham stimulation. Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Group 1: Active tDCS During Extinction Learning and Sham tDCS During Consolidation
Serious: 0/19 (0%)
Deaths: 0/19
Group 2: Sham tDCS During Extinction Learning and Active tDCS During Consolidation
Serious: 0/20 (0%)
Deaths: 0/20
Group 3: Sham tDCS During Extinction Learning and Sham tDCS During Consolidation
Serious: 0/23 (0%)
Deaths: 0/23
Other adverse events (10 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemGroup 1: Active tDCS Durin…Group 2: Sham tDCS During …Group 3: Sham tDCS During …
Skin sensations/rednessSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Feeling sleepy or drowsyNervous system disorders
Acute mood changePsychiatric disorders
Experience of flickering lightsNervous system disorders
HeadacheNervous system disorders
Difficulty concentratingNervous system disorders
Neck or scalp painSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Feeling dizzy or lightheadedNervous system disorders
Ringing or buzzing in earsNervous system disorders
Feeling nauseousGastrointestinal disorders

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04152772 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of tDCS timing on extinction memory in PTSD. A total of 90 participants will be randomized equally across one of three groups: 1. One group receiving active stimulation during extinction followed by sham stimulation during consolidation 2. One group receiving sham stimulation during extinction followed by active stimulation during consolidation 3. One group receiving sham stimulation both during extinction and consolidation This study also includes an online sub-study (Aim 2) focused on contextual processing along the PTSD spectrum. The online study tests if there is an association between threat and non-threat learning in contextual and non-contextual situations. A maximum of 500 participants will be recruited using an online, panel-based platform.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of transcranial direct current stimulation

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for PTSD

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Butler Hospital trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

Verify against primary sources

Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT04152772.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing