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AnxietyNCT05845658

Electrical Vestibular Nerve Stimulation (VeNS) as a Treatment for Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial

A study testing Active VeNS in people with Anxiety, run by Neurovalens Ltd. at 1 site in India.

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

The present study will be conducted at the Department of Physiology in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry of R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. This double-blind randomized controlled trial will remotely enroll 60 subjects. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 22 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Anxiety
What is being tested?
Active VeNS
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteIndia
Study dates
25 Oct 2022to 10 Jun 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 22 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Signed informed consent
  • Report clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, defined as a score of 10 or greater on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, 7th edition (GAD-7)
  • Males or females 18-80 years of age inclusive on starting the study
  • Can speak/read English
  • Ability and willingness to complete all study visits and procedures; in particular an agreement to engage with trying to use the device on a daily basis
  • Not using, and have never used, prescription, or the counter, anxiety medications
  • Agree not to undergo any extreme lifestyle changes during the duration of the study that could impact sleep e.g. dietary or exercise changes

Who cannot join

  • History of skin breakdown, eczema or other dermatological condition (e.g. psoriasis) affecting the skin behind the ears.
  • Previous diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS (HIV is known to cause a vestibular neuropathy which would prevent the Modius Stress device from working)
  • Medication for anxiety
  • Use of beta-blockers within 1 month of starting the study
  • Use of antidepressants or unstable dose within 3 months of starting study
  • Use of any other medical condition or medication use that in the opinion of the PI is likely to make the participant resistant to VeNS.
Show all 22Show fewer
  • A score higher than 14 on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
  • A history of stroke or severe head injury (as defined by a head injury that required a craniotomy or endotracheal intubation). (In case this damaged the neurological pathways involved in vestibular stimulation).
  • Presence of permanently implanted battery-powered medical device or stimulator (e.g., pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, deep brain stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, etc.).
  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant (a pregnancy kit can be mailed if any uncertainty)
  • History of epilepsy
  • History of active migraines with aura
  • History of head injury requiring intensive care or neurosurgery
  • History of diagnosed cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease/dementia
  • History of bipolar, psychotic or substance use disorders
  • Diagnosis of a current psychotic disorder
  • Regular use (more than twice a month) of antihistamine medication within the last 6 months.
  • History or presence of malignancy within the last year (except basal and squamous cell skin cancer and in-situ carcinomas)
  • A diagnosis of myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic syndrome.
  • Previous use of any VeNS device
  • Participation in other clinical trials
  • History of vestibular dysfunction or another inner ear disease

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

India1 site
  • Department of Psychiatry of R.D. Gardi Medical College

    Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, 456001

Other trials in India

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Double-Blind Sham Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate The Efficacy of Electrical Vestibular Stimulation (VeNS), Compared to a Sham Control For The Management Of Anxiety

The present study will be conducted at the Department of Physiology in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry of R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

This double-blind randomized controlled trial will remotely enroll 60 subjects. Each participant will complete 20 stimulation sessions at a rate of 3-5 sessions per week. Each session will be 30 minutes on the day of usage. The study will be randomized with a 1:1 active; or sham control allocation. Endpoint analysis will be performed upon completion of the study.

Conditions
Anxiety
Being tested
Active VeNS, Sham VeNS
Medical subject headings
Anxiety Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • Active VeNSDevice

    The VeNS device utilizes a technology called galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) (sometimes termed vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS)). The device will be placed on the head in a manner analogous to headphones and will deliver a small electrical current to the skin behind the ears, over the mastoid processes. Participants will be advised to use the device at home for 30 minutes per day.

  • Sham VeNSDevice

    The VeNS device utilizes a technology called galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) (sometimes termed vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS)). The device will be placed on the head in a manner analogous to headphones and will deliver a small electrical current to the skin behind the ears, over the mastoid processes. Participants will be advised to use the device at home for 30 minutes per day.

Study groups in NCT05845658
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active VeNSActive comparatorThe active device utilizes a technology termed vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS). The device will be placed on the head in a manner analogous to headphones and will deliver a small electrical current to the skin behind the ears, over the mastoid processes. Participants will be advised to use the device at home for 30 minutes per day.
Receives: Device: Active VeNS
Sham VeNSSham comparatorThe sham device looks identical to the active device and interacts with the app in a similar manner to the active device. It will apply some stimulation to a user for a limited period of time (30 seconds), before tapering down to zero over a further 20 seconds, thus creating the impression of an active device. The device will be placed on the head in a manner analogous to headphones with hydrogel electrodes placed over the mastoid processes. Participants will be advised to use the device at home for 30 minutes per day.
Receives: Device: Sham VeNS

What is being measured

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

  1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Scores

    To evaluate the ability of the Modius Stress device, relative to the control group, in the management of anxiety.

    Measured: Up to 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Number of adverse events

    To evaluate the safety of the VeNS device relative to control group, in terms of the occurrence of adverse events.

    Measured: Up to 6 weeks

  2. Quality of life using SF-36 scores

    Measured: Up to 6 weeks

  3. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score

    To evaluate the effect of the VeNS device, relative to control group on participants with insomnia. ISI is a self-report rating scale assessing the severity of insomnia symptoms (range 0-28) with higher scores indicating a more severe insomnia.

    Measured: Up to 6 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted6 May 2023
  2. Study start25 Oct 2022
  3. Primary completion10 Jun 2023
  4. Study completion10 Jun 2023

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
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05845658
Sponsor's protocol ID
ICNAS001
Status last verified
Jan 2024
First submitted
26 Apr 2023
Last updated
23 Jan 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Active VeNS in people with Anxiety, run by Neurovalens Ltd. at 1 site in India.

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 7 inclusion and 22 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 23 Jan 2024. 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 India. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Scores (time frame: Up to 6 weeks). 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 23 Jan 2024.

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