Cranial Electrotherapy for Anxiety Disorders

Overseen By Nathan Ward, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Tufts University

Disqualifiers: Neurological, Psychiatric disorders

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

124 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study investigates the potential of cranial electrotherapy stimulation to mitigate anxiety induced cognitive deficits

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young adults aged 18-28 who experience anxiety that affects their thinking and memory. It's not suitable for those with a history of neurological or psychiatric disorders.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18 and 28 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric disorder.

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation
• Sham Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation

Trial Overview The study tests cranial electrotherapy stimulation, which uses electrical currents to potentially ease anxiety-related cognitive issues, against a sham (fake) treatment for comparison.

Participant Groups

Group I: Experimental - No Induced Anxiety Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be administered a shock procedure in which they are exposed to safe electrical shock that will be gradually increase from (1) 30 milliseconds to (4) 80 milliseconds to an individual threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. After this procedure, the shock belt will be turned off. Participants will be told they will not receive additional shocks during cognitive assessments. Participants will be administered cranial electrotherapy stimulation with a frequency of .5 Hz and a current of 100 microamps during 30 minutes of cognitive assessments of task switching, inhibition (stroop), working memory (n-back), and processing speed (simple reaction time).

Group II: Experimental - Induced Anxiety Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be administered a shock procedure in which they are exposed to safe electrical shock that will be gradually increase from (1) 30 milliseconds to (4) 80 milliseconds to an individual threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. Participants will be told they may receive additional shocks for poor performance during cognitive assessments. Participants will be administered cranial electrotherapy stimulation with a frequency of .5 Hz and a current of 100 microamps during 30 minutes of cognitive assessments of task switching, inhibition (stroop), working memory (n-back), and processing speed (simple reaction time).

Group III: Sham - No Induced Anxiety Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will be administered a shock procedure in which they are exposed to safe electrical shock that will be gradually increase from (1) 30 milliseconds to (4) 80 milliseconds to an individual threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. After this procedure, the shock belt will be turned off. Participants will be told they will not receive additional shocks during cognitive assessments. Participants will be administered sham cranial electrotherapy stimulation with no current during 30 minutes of cognitive assessments of task switching, inhibition (stroop), working memory (n-back), and processing speed (simple reaction time).

Group IV: Sham - Induced Anxiety Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will be administered a shock procedure in which they are exposed to safe electrical shock that will be gradually increase from (1) 30 milliseconds to (4) 80 milliseconds to an individual threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. Participants will be told they may receive additional shocks for poor performance during cognitive assessments. Participants will be administered sham cranial electrotherapy stimulation with no current during 30 minutes of cognitive assessments of task switching, inhibition (stroop), working memory (n-back), and processing speed (simple reaction time).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Tufts University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

271

Recruited

595,000+