Adults 18 to 60, any sex, with Self-Injurious Behavior or Self Harm. 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.
Social Processing (Cyberball) fMRI Task: fMRI ResponsesPrimary· Pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (up to 2 weeks)
The Cyberball task is a task used during functional MRI scanning. During the task, individuals play a virtual ball-tossing game, playing catch with two computer avatars, and have a social exclusion experience when the avatars stop tossing the ball to them. The outcome measure is a subtraction of a measure of brain activity (fMRI BOLD signal) during portions of the task when the individual is included in the virtual ball-tossing game as compared to periods when the individual is excluded (i.e. fMRI BOLD signal inclusion periods - fMRI BOLD signal exclusion periods). This is quantified in 7 spec
Parcel 29 (left dACC)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-621.4739585
± 819.58606846675
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-519.1597701
± 1187.3713291081
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
-63.33972338
± 851.26348872338
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
-396.4460666
± 779.73833545212
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
286.13477133333
± 1560.1228270282
Parcel 183 (right dACC)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-651.4402542
± 1422.0518670889
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-581.3360775
± 1419.4881641560
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
-324.0953143
± 1101.3079494312
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
-168.76175
± 679.73029181028
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
384.62016755555
± 2082.2972871030
Parcel 240 (right vlPFC)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-227.9885197
± 395.65696014195
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-203.971185
± 671.54324931238
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
446.1573213
± 650.27267162975
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
-287.2243125
± 839.18680962738
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
-588.4478376
± 1036.4740809912
Parcel 241 (right vlPFC)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-335.4290303
± 565.88946960588
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-215.3886576
± 1194.5755014134
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
50.34725113
± 456.40817606524
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
57.968314699999
± 956.33384050042
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
-482.2452623
± 1373.3034293132
Parcel 242 (right vlPFC)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-756.0566932
± 956.69043909054
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-297.5780364
± 1289.3740570339
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
320.32500074999
± 986.09839303323
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
48.925466799999
± 730.94081312280
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
-264.4217283
± 1149.8191589249
Parcel 247 (right AI)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-247.2044975
± 466.61315305963
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-495.6796714
± 758.72874358403
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
-127.9602427
± 1163.6302170131
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
-93.3563077
± 888.06111718986
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
-141.689008
± 1181.0573804472
Parcel 281 (right vlPFC)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Pre-treatment
-234.9502234
± 454.57709537062
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post-treatment
-229.4499879
± 706.92156796310
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Pre-treatment
220.64673762500
± 609.39673885219
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-treatment
-137.8113024
± 437.9420888
Discontinued Prior to Randomization
-179.9291584
± 1004.2419972306
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): Duration, Intensity, and Severity of NSSI Urges and BehaviorPrimary· One week before tDCS (baseline), two weeks during tDCS (during tDCS), one week post-tDCS (post-tDCS)
EMA assessment of NSSI urges and behavior before, during, and after tDCS intervention. EMA is a tool through which participants can respond to a brief questionnaire on a smartphone device while going about their daily lives. Participants were prompted to complete a brief questionnaire 6 times per day over a 4 week period (one week before tDCS (baseline), 2 weeks during tDCS (during tDCS), and one week after the final tDCS administration (post-tDCS)), which asks questions about urges to engage in NSSI and in actual NSSI behavior. Scores, coded on a scale from 1-5, are averaged across all prompt
Strength of self-injury thoughts: baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
1.2697
± 0.6952
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
1.5285
± 1.0736
Strength of self-injury thoughts: during tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
1.1186
± 0.7094
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
1.2294
± 0.9414
Strength of self-injury thoughts: post-tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.5667
± 0.8014
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
1.38
± 0.9439
Duration of self-injury thoughts: baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.9821
± 0.4538
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
1.2479
± 1.1492
Duration of self-injury thoughts: during tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.6770
± 0.3366
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.9503
± 0.9765
Duration of self-injury thoughts: post-tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
1.0587
± 0.6349
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
1.0711
± 0.8945
Difficulty resisting self-injury thoughts: during tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
1.0636
± 0.8165
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.9338
± 0.93
Self Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Inventory Part 1Primary· Pre-treatment (baseline) and post-tDCS (up to 2 weeks after baseline)
Selected items from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) were used at baseline and after the tDCS or sham intervention as outcome measures in this study. These items ask participants to report on their NSSI thoughts and behaviors over the past week. The following items are reported in this table:
Sitbi 58: At their worst, how intense were your thoughts about engaging in NSSI? (0: very mild to 4: very severe) sitbi 59: On average, how intense were your thoughts about engaging in NSSI? (0: very mild to 4: very severe)
At their worst, how intense were your thoughts about engaging in self-harm? (sitbi 58)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Baseline
2.33
± 1.15
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post tDCS
2.67
± 1.15
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Baseline
2.67
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-tDCS
2.67
± 1.15
On average, how intense were your thoughts about engaging in self-harm? (sitbi 59)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Baseline
1.67
± 0.58
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post tDCS
2
± 1
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Baseline
1.67
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-tDCS
2.33
± 0.58
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): NSSI Urges and BehaviorPrimary· One week before tDCS (baseline), two weeks during tDCS (during tDCS), one week post-tDCS (post-tDCS)
EMA assessment of NSSI urges and behavior before, during, and after tDCS intervention. EMA is a tool through which participants can respond to a brief questionnaire on a smartphone device while going about their daily lives. Participants were prompted to complete a brief questionnaire 6 times per day over a 4 week period (one week before tDCS (baseline), 2 weeks during tDCS (during tDCS), and one week after the final tDCS administration (post-tDCS)), which asks questions about urges to engage in NSSI and in actual NSSI behavior. Items refer to the proportion of survey responses in which an ind
Thoughts of self-injury: baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.4453
± 0.2874
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.4664
± 0.2274
Thoughts of self-injury: during tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.4084
± 0.2963
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.3661
± 0.2166
Thoughts of self-injury: post-tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.2333
± 0.33
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.3937
± 0.2379
Attempted to resist self-injury thoughts: baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.3658
± 0.2531
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.3146
± 0.2470
Attempted to resist self-injury thoughts: during tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.3509
± 0.2937
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.2803
± 0.2644
Attempted to resist self-injury thoughts: post-tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.2
± 0.2828
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.2071
± 0.2608
Self-harm behavior: baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.0975
± 0.1082
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.1759
± 0.1818
Self-harm behavior: during tDCS
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
0.1261
± 0.1615
Active Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0.1073
± 0.1298
Self Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Inventory Part 2Primary· pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (up to 2 weeks)
Selected items from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) were used at baseline and after the tDCS or sham intervention as outcome measures in this study. These items ask participants to report on their NSSI thoughts and behaviors over the past week. The following item is reported in this table:
sitbi 68: How many times \[did you self-injure\] in the past week? (number entered, minimum = 0, maximum = no limit)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Baseline
4.33
± 2.52
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post tDCS
1.33
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Baseline
9.67
± 13.43
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-tDCS
1.33
± 2.31
Self Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Inventory Part 3Primary· Pre-treatment (baseline) and post-tDCS (up to 2 weeks after baseline)
Selected items from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) were used at baseline and after the tDCS or sham intervention as outcome measures in this study. These items ask participants to report on their NSSI thoughts and behaviors over the past week. The following item is reported in this table:
sitbi 60: When you have had these thoughts: how long have they usually lasted? (0: 0 seconds to 6: more than 2 days)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Baseline
2.33
± 0.58
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post tDCS
2.33
± 1.15
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Baseline
3.33
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-tDCS
3.33
± 2.31
Self Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Inventory Part 4Primary· Pre-treatment (baseline) and post-tDCS (up to 2 weeks after baseline)
Selected items from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) were used at baseline and after the tDCS or sham intervention as outcome measures in this study. These items ask participants to report on their NSSI thoughts and behaviors over the past week. The following items are reported here:
sitbi 61: What is the likelihood you will have thoughts about engaging in NSSI in the future? (0: very unlikely to 4: very likely) sitbi 72: What do you think is the likelihood you will engage in NSSI in the future? (0: very unlikely to 4: very likely)
Likelihood of future self-harm thoughts (sitbi 61)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Baseline
4
± 0
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post tDCS
33
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Baseline
4
± 0
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-tDCS
4
± 0
Likelihood of future self-harm (sitbi 72)
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Baseline
4
± 0
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC: Post tDCS
3.33
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Baseline
3.67
± 0.58
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC): Post-tDCS
3.67
± 0.58
tDCS Adverse Effects QuestionnaireSecondary· Administered after each (12) tDCS session over 6 days
A questionnaire to evaluate side-effects related to tDCS administration. This questionnaire asks about the presence and severity of possible side-effects of tDCS procedures, and was recently published as a gold-standard tool for this purpose: Aparício LVM, Guarienti F, Razza LB, Carvalho AF, Fregni F, Brunoni AR. A Systematic Review on the Acceptability and Tolerability of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment in Neuropsychiatry Trials. Brain Stimul. 2016 Oct;9(5):671-81. This is an 11-item scale, that asks about the occurrence and severity of a range of possible side-effects durin
Headache
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
2
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
2
Neck Pain
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
0
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
1
Scalp pain
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
1
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
1
Tingling
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
3
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
2
Itching
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
3
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
2
Burning sensation
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
3
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
3
Skin Redness
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
3
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
3
Sleepiness
Group
Value
95% CI
Sham Anodal tDCS to VLPFC
3
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
2
Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov
Time frame: For study completers: >4 weeks. Study procedures occur over an approx 4 week period (1 week prior to tDCS procedures, 2 weeks of tDCS procedures, 1 week following tDCS procedures). However, there is generally some time from signing of consent to scheduling of baseline research procedures. In general, time frame is approximately 7-8 weeks for study completers. For individuals who discontinued prior to randomization, time frame is from consent to study discontinuation, generally 1 to 3 weeks..
Reporting threshold: 0%.
Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.
Sham Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
Serious: 0/3 (0%)
Deaths: 0/3
Active Anodal tDCS to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC)
The purpose of this study is to explore the tolerability and effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a potential treatment for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Individuals who engage in frequent NSSI will be randomized to 12 administrations of an active vs. inactive form of tDCS, paired with an Attention Training Technique task, over a two-week period. Functional MRI may be performed before and after this two week period. NSSI urges and behaviors will be monitored before, during, and after the period of tDCS administrations.
Publications & conference data
1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):
Publications: Europe PMC API search by NCT ID, retrieved 10 June 2026
Drug + disease cross-links: matched in real time against Drug Landscape's normalised drug + company + condition tables
Sponsor: as reported to ClinicalTrials.gov by New York State Psychiatric Institute
Last refreshed: 3 July 2024
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/NCT04244786.