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NCT03542383 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA
Treatment of Memory Disorders in Gulf War Illness With High Definition Transcranial Direct Cortical Stimulation
A NA study, sponsored by The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Completed
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 93
- Enrollment target
NCT03542383: Completed NA study, sponsored by The University of Texas at Dallas.
NCT03542383 is a NA study that has completed, run by The University of Texas at Dallas. The registered enrollment target is 93 participants, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (93% lower). According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.
The verdict
NCT03542383, a NA study, has completed, sponsored by The University of Texas at Dallas.
- COMPLETED
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 93 participants
- Enrollment target
Study Summary
A debilitating and common symptom in Gulf War Illnesses (GWI) is the inability to retrieve words. This affects one's conversations, ability to fluidly exchange information verbally and retrieve information from memory. The investigators have discovered 3 brain regions - the PreSupplementary Motor Area (preSMA), caudate nucleus, and the thalamus - that are essential for word retrieval. They have also detected abnormal EEG signals related to these regions in GWI patients who have problems retrieving words. The investigators have used their model of verbal retrieval to design a noninvasive, nonpharmacological treatment that uses High Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD tDCS). Using HD tDCS, they deliver small amounts of electric current to areas of the head to stimulate specific brain regions. The objective is to determine if delivery of HD tDCS over the preSMA will improve performance in GWI veterans with a verbal retrieval deficit. The investigators will administer pre-treatment tests of verbal retrieval measures while recording brain electrical activity. They will then administer 10 sessions of HD tDCS over the preSMA (20 minutes a session) in half the veterans. The other half will go through the same procedures, except the current will not be turned on (called the sham condition). The investigators will then compare performance between the "active" and sham group and assess if the treatment had a significant effect on performing verbal retrieval tasks and if there is a change in the ERP markers to account for how the treatment worked. If the treatment is found to be effective it will be offered to those in the sham group at the study's end. The investigators predict this treatment regimen will lead to positive effects on a person's daily functions, especially improved conversational abilities, with few, if any, side effects. They hope to outline the standard procedures for physicians to perform the treatment by creating a manual on how to apply
Primary Outcome
The COWAT is a verbal fluency test that measures spontaneous production of words belonging to the same category or beginning with some designated letter.
Interventions
- DEVICE High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- DEVICE Sham High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 93 participants |
| Start Date | 2017-02-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2025-09-29 |
| Phase | NA |
What the finished NCT03542383 record still lists
NCT03542383 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registry caps enrollment at 93 participants, a relatively small participant target, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (93% lower).
The record links to 0 conditions, and to 2 interventions - of which High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation is the first listed.
NCT03542383 does not publish any study locations in the registry export this page uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT03542383 about?
NCT03542383 is a clinical study titled "Treatment of Memory Disorders in Gulf War Illness With High Definition Transcranial Direct Cortical Stimulation". A debilitating and common symptom in Gulf War Illnesses (GWI) is the inability to retrieve words. This affects one's conversations, ability to fluidly exchange information verbally and retrieve information from memory. The investigators have discovered 3 brain regions - the PreSupplementary Motor Ar...
What is the current status of trial NCT03542383?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 93 participants. The study started on 2017-02-01. Estimated completion is 2025-09-29.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03542383?
The interventions under investigation include: High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (DEVICE), Sham High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (DEVICE).
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03542383?
This trial is sponsored by The University of Texas at Dallas, which has 50 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
How this trial's enrollment target compares
Where NCT03542383's enrollment target sits among peer trials
93 937th of 2000 higher than 1,064 of 2,000 other NA trials
participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other NA trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08
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