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Alcohol Use DisorderNCT03983317

Pilot Evaluation of the Empower Neuromodulation System in AUD Patients

A study testing Empower Neuromodulation System in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Theranova, L.L.C. at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates the effects of peripheral nerve stimulation on alcohol craving and consumption in participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is a pilot investigation in which all participants will receive the active treatment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Alcohol Use Disorder
What is being tested?
Empower Neuromodulation System
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
25 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
20 May 2019to 26 Mar 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Is male or female ≥ 21 year of age at Visit 1
  • Has a current diagnosis of alcohol use disorder per DSM-5 by clinician assessment
  • Endorses Criterion 4 in DSM-5
  • Has a desire to maintain abstinence or, if not abstinent, a desire to reduce or quit alcohol use
  • Has a breath alcohol concentration of 0.00% at enrollment
  • Is able to provide informed consent
  • Is able to understand spoken and written English
  • Is capable and willing to follow all study-related procedures

Who cannot join

  • Has been diagnosed with unstable psychosis, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage
  • Requires acute medical detoxification from alcohol based on a score of 12 or more on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale (CIWA-AD)
  • Has implanted electrical and/or neurostimulator device (e.g. pacemaker, defibrillator, vagal neurostimulator, deep brain stimulator, spinal stimulator, sacral stimulator, bone growth stimulator, or cochlear implant)
  • Has an electrically conductive metal object (e.g. jewelry) that cannot be removed from the palm and will directly contact the gel electrodes of the Empower Neuromodulation System
  • Will not, for the duration of the participation in the study, have a living situation that provides regular access to an electrical outlet.
  • Is pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to practice birth control during participation in the study
  • Has used an investigational drug/device therapy within the past 4 weeks
  • Is deemed unsuitable for enrollment in the study by the PI

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • NCIRE

    San Francisco, California, 94121

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Pilot Evaluation of the Empower Neuromodulation System in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Patients

This study evaluates the effects of peripheral nerve stimulation on alcohol craving and consumption in participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is a pilot investigation in which all participants will receive the active treatment.

Read the detailed description

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health concern, affecting over 16 million Americans. Peripheral nerve stimulation via acupuncture has been shown to directly decrease alcohol craving and self-administration. TheraNova has developed the Empower Neuromodulation System, a non-invasive, portable transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device intended to stimulate peripheral nerves for the treatment of AUD. In this study, we will conduct a cross-over, home-use study in participants with AUD. Participants will have a one-week control period with no treatment followed by two weeks of twice daily treatment with the Empower device. We will evaluate endpoints for safety and effectiveness.

Being tested
Empower Neuromodulation System
Medical subject headings
Alcoholism

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Empower Neuromodulation SystemDevice

    Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Study groups in NCT03983317
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
BaselineNo interventionFor the first week of the study, participants will not administer treatment with the Empower device. Participants will complete surveys to establish baseline values for each participant.
Active treatmentExperimentalParticipants will self-administer treatment with the Empower device two times daily for two weeks. Participants will complete surveys over the two-week period to evaluate the effects of the Empower treatment.
Receives: Device: Empower Neuromodulation System

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Mean Number of Alcoholic Drinks Consumed Per Day

    Change in the self-reported average daily consumption over the final week (Week 2) of the treatment phase compared to the week of the pre-treatment baseline phase.

    Measured: Baseline week and Week 2 of the treatment phase

  2. Number of Participants With Adverse Events

    Safety assessment via device-related adverse events

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Decrease in Mean Alcohol Craving Intensity

    Change in self-reported average alcohol craving intensity via 100-mm visual-analog scale (VAS). The VAS has a minimum score of 0 (no craving) and a maximum score of 100 (severe craving). We compared the average daily craving intensity over the final week (Week 2) of the treatment phase compared to the week of the pre-treatment baseline phase.

    Measured: Baseline week and Week 2 of the treatment phase

  2. Usability

    System Usability Scale (SUS) survey to evaluate usability. The SUS is a 10-item self-report survey (each question is answered on a 5-point Likert scale) which measures usability. An SUS score of 68 is considered average, whereas SUS=80 is the 90th percentile score ("excellent").

    Measured: Study completion, at approximately 3 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Jun 2019
  2. Study start20 May 2019
  3. Primary completion26 Mar 2020
  4. Study completion26 Mar 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
All participants will have a one-week control period with no treatment followed by two weeks of twice daily Empower treatment.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
25 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03983317
Sponsor's protocol ID
CRD-12-1176-01
Other IDs
R43AA027188-01
Status last verified
Nov 2020
First submitted
10 Jun 2019
Last updated
18 Nov 2020
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Empower Neuromodulation System in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Theranova, L.L.C. at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Nov 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 20 Oct 2020). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Mean Number of Alcoholic Drinks Consumed Per Day (time frame: Baseline week and Week 2 of the treatment phase). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Nov 2020.

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