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Parkinson DiseaseNCT05950347

The Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Anxiety in PD

A study testing Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in people with Parkinson Disease, run by The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University at 1 site in China.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study is a double blind comparative study examining the effectiveness of the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation treatment on Parkinson's disease patients with anxiety. The investigators hypothesize that taVNS will improve anxiety and cortical activity in Parkinson's disease patients with anxiety. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 40 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Parkinson Disease
What is being tested?
Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Aug 2023to 31 Dec 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 40 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • (1) diagnosed with idiopathic PD according to the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for PD;
  • (2) meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for anxiety and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score ≥ 12;
  • (3) stable pharmacotherapy for PD at least one month prior to the study;
  • (4) 40-80 years old;
  • (5) willing to sign written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • (1) with cognitive impairment, according to Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) < 23;
  • (2) took antianxiety drugs;
  • (3) with taVNS contraindications;
  • (4) received VNS treatment during the past month;
  • (5) with concomitant severe neurologic, renal, cardiovascular, or hepatic disease.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Zhang Kezhong, Study Principal Investigator contact

13770840575

kezhong_zhang1969@126.com

China1 site
  • the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: The Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease

This study is a double blind comparative study examining the effectiveness of the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation treatment on Parkinson's disease patients with anxiety. The investigators hypothesize that taVNS will improve anxiety and cortical activity in Parkinson's disease patients with anxiety.

Read the detailed description

Participants in the Experimental group underwent fourteen consecutive daily sessions of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS, twice daily, 30 minutes each time) , whereas participants in the sham stimulation group underwent fourteen consecutive daily sessions of sham taVNS. Assessments of anxiety symptoms, motor symptoms were performed three times: at baseline, one day post intervention and 2 weeks post intervention. The cortical activity (using Functional near-infrared spectroscopy) were assessed at baseline, one day post intervention.

Being tested
Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, Sham Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, Anxiety, taVNS
Medical subject headings
Parkinson Disease, Anxiety Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulationDevice

    Two modified dot-like electrodes delivered the stimulation to the cymba conchae of left ear in the vicinity of the auricular branch vagus nerve. Stimulation parameters: frequency = 20/4 Hz; pulse width = 200 μs; 20 Hz lasting 7 seconds, alternated with 4 Hz lasting 3 seconds,repeat until 30 min. Every PD patient received stimulation twice daily , 30 minutes each time, for 14 consecutive days. The stimulation intensity was set as the maximum value the patient could tolerate without causing pain.

  • Sham Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulationDevice

    Two modified dot-like electrodes delivered the stimulation to the cymba conchae of left ear in the vicinity of the auricular branch vagus nerve. Stimulation parameters: frequency = 20/4 Hz; pulse width = 200 μs; 20 Hz lasting 7 seconds, alternated with 4 Hz lasting 3 seconds,repeat until 30 min. Every PD patient received stimulation twice daily , 30 minutes each time, for 14 consecutive days. The stimulation intensity was set as the maximum value the patient could tolerate without causing pain.

Study groups in NCT05950347
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulationActive comparatorTwo modified dot-like electrodes delivered the stimulation to the cymba conchae of left ear in the vicinity of the auricular branch vagus nerve. Stimulation parameters: frequency = 20/4 Hz; pulse width = 200 μs; 20 Hz lasting 7 seconds, alternated with 4 Hz lasting 3 seconds,repeat until 30 min. Every PD patient received stimulation twice daily , 30 minutes each time, for 14 consecutive days. The stimulation intensity was set as the maximum value the patient could tolerate without causing pain.
Receives: Device: Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Sham Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulationSham comparatorTwo modified dot-like electrodes delivered the stimulation to the left earlobe. Stimulation parameters: frequency = 20/4 Hz; pulse width = 200 μs; 20 Hz lasting 7 seconds, alternated with 4 Hz lasting 3 seconds,repeat until 30 min. Every PD patient received stimulation twice daily , 30 minutes each time, for 14 consecutive days. The stimulation intensity was set as the maximum value the patient could tolerate without causing pain.
Receives: Device: Sham Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

What is being measured

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

  1. change of Hamilton Anxiety Scale Score

    Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A score), which was used for assessing the degree of anxiety. It consists of 14 symptomatic definition elements, with a total possible score of 56. The differences in HAMA score before and after treatment can be used to evaluate the effect of taVNS treatment.

    Measured: Assessed at baseline, one day post intervention,2 weeks post intervention

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. change of HbO2 in the prefrontal cortex

    The change of HbO2 in the prefrontal cortex is accessed by fNIRS combined with verbal fluency task. Recent documents have highlighted the effectiveness of fNIRS combined with verbal fluency task (VFT) in detecting alterations in the PFC in patients with anxiety. The differences in HbO2 before and after treatment can be used to evaluate the effect of taVNS treatment.

    Measured: Assessed at baseline, one day post intervention

  2. change of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Score section III

    Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Score section III were used to assess the severity of motor symptoms.

    Measured: Assessed at baseline, one day post intervention,2 weeks post intervention

  3. change of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Score section I

    Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Score section I can evaluate changes in mental state and cognition (including behavior and emotions)

    Measured: Assessed at baseline, one day post intervention,2 weeks post intervention

Timeline

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

  1. First posted18 Jul 2023
  2. Study start1 Aug 2023 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 Nov 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2023 (estimated)

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
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
30 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05950347
Sponsor's protocol ID
2023-07
Status last verified
Jul 2023
First submitted
10 Jul 2023
Last updated
28 Jul 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Active Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in people with Parkinson Disease, run by The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University at 1 site in China.

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 5 inclusion and 5 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jul 2023. 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 China. 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?

Results are not available in the source record.

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

Contact Zhang Kezhong (13770840575, kezhong_zhang1969@126.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

change of Hamilton Anxiety Scale Score (time frame: Assessed at baseline, one day post intervention,2 weeks post intervention). 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 28 Jul 2023.

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