Impulse Control DisorderNCT06237868
rTMS Over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for the Treatment of Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease
A study testing rTMS Active in people with Impulse Control Disorder and Parkinson Disease, run by West Virginia University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study's objective is to evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) who experience impulse control disorders (ICDs) on impulse control symptoms and cognitive behaviors linked to ICDs… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Impulse Control Disorder, Parkinson Disease
- What is being tested?
- rTMS Active
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 2024to May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Clinician-confirmed diagnosis of PD
- Ability to provide informed consent, written and verbal
- Clinician-diagnosed impulse control disorder or impulse control behaviors including punding/hobbyism and dopamine dysregulation syndrome
- A Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck et al., 1961) score of 14 or lower
- A Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (Nasreddine et al., 2005) score of 20 or higher
- On dopamine-replacement therapy
Who cannot join
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- History of brain lesions (such as multiple sclerosis, tumor) reported
- History of vascular issues in the brain, such as stroke
- History of a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Meeting the criteria for a major psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia or depression (BDI score of 14 or higher).
- Having significant cognitive impairment (assessed by MoCA, cutoff score of 20) (Nasreddine, et al., 2005)
Show all 10Show fewer
- Having had TMS done in the recent past (within a year)
- Pregnancy assessed in female patients
- Intracranial metallic objects (except for dental fillings)
- Current use of substances or medications known to significantly reduce seizure threshold.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
West Virginia University Hospitals
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505
Mariya V Cherkasova, PhD, 2403673068, mariya.cherkasova@mail.wvu.edu
About this study
Official title: The Effects of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease Patients on Dopamine Replacement Therapy.
This study's objective is to evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) who experience impulse control disorders (ICDs) on impulse control symptoms and cognitive behaviors linked to ICDs: reinforcement learning and delay-discounting. This is a randomized sham-controlled cross-over trial. All patients will undergo a session of active rTMS and a session of sham rTMS, with the order of sessions randomized across participants. Following recruitment and eligibility screening, the eligible participants will undergo two sessions of rTMS (active and sham), immediately followed by neurocognitive tasks and questionnaires, no more than 1-2 weeks apart. Each session will have a duration of approximately 1-1.5 hours.
- Conditions
- Impulse Control Disorder, Parkinson Disease
- Being tested
- rTMS Active, rTMS Sham
- Medical subject headings
- Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders, Parkinson Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
rTMS ActiveDevice
The participants undergo Active rTMS, approximately 10-15 min and then complete tasks and questionnaires.
rTMS ShamDevice
The participants undergo Sham rTMS, approximately 10-15 min and then complete tasks and questionnaires.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| rTMS Active | Active comparator | the participant will receive a type of TMS called repetitive TMS (rTMS) wherein the magnetic pulses delivered will be close together in a rapid sequence over the dlPFC. Participants receive excitatory rTMS with a stimulation frequency of 20 Hz between 100-120% of their resting motor threshold. Receives: Device: rTMS Active |
| rTMS Sham | Sham comparator | Sham rTMS will be the same as real rTMS, except a special sham coil will be used, which produces the same sensation on the scalp of the patients as the real coil but delivers no magnetic stimulation to the brain. Receives: Device: rTMS Sham |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Delay-Discounting
Change in performance on a task assessing delay-discounting. Delay-discounting assesses the participants' impulsivity by requiring them to make choices between smaller sooner hypothetical money rewards and larger later hypothetical money rewards (e.g. $10 today vs $100 in a year). This is a hypothetical choice, and the participant will not be receiving the chosen rewards. A short preliminary version of the task will be completed at the start of the first session (prior to TMS) to optimize task parameters for each participant. The task will be completed on a laptop computer.
Measured: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention
Change in Reinforcement Learning
Change in performance on a task assessing reinforcement learning. The reinforcement learning task assesses how well participants learn from rewards vs. punishments. The task will ask participants to choose from two stimuli that predict reward (gaining points) or punishment (losing points) at different rates, which they will learn in the course of the task based on feedback. At the end of the task, participants will be asked to rate how well each stimulus predicted reward or punishment.
Measured: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in impulse control disorder symptoms
Change in impulse control disorder symptoms measured using a modified version of the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease-Rating Scale (QUIP-RS). QUIP-RS is a self-administered assessment of impulsive and compulsive behaviors in patients with PD. The QUIP-RS is a brief 28-item patient-reported or clinician-rated scale that was developed in PD and derived from the QUIP to measure of severity of ICDs. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale assessing the frequency of symptoms with a range of scores from 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
Measured: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2024
- Study start1 May 2024
- Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Impulse Control DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by West Virginia UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- West Virginia University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mariya V. Cherkasova, West Virginia University
- Investigators
- Mariya V Cherkasova, PhD, Principal investigator, West Virginia University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06237868
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2307823170
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jan 2024
- Last updated
- 20 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease Patients on Dopamine Replacement Therapy.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06237868
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2307823170
- Conditions
- Impulse Control Disorder, Parkinson Disease
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- West Virginia UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study's objective is to evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) who experience impulse control disorders (ICDs) on impulse control symptoms and cognitive behaviors linked to ICDs: reinforcement learning and delay-discounting. This is a randomized sham-controlled cross-over trial. All patients will undergo a session of active rTMS and a session of sham rTMS, with the order of sessions randomized across participants. Following recruitment and eligibility screening, the eligible participants will undergo two sessions of rTMS (active and sham), immediately followed by neurocognitive tasks and questionnaires, no more than 1-2 weeks apart. Each session will have a duration of approximately 1-1.5 hours.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| rTMS Active | Active comparator | Device: rTMS Activethe participant will receive a type of TMS called repetitive TMS (rTMS) wherein the magnetic pulses delivered will be close together in a rapid sequence over the dlPFC. Participants receive excitatory rTMS with a stimulation frequency of 20 Hz between 100-120% of their resting motor threshold. |
| rTMS Sham | Sham comparator | Device: rTMS ShamSham rTMS will be the same as real rTMS, except a special sham coil will be used, which produces the same sensation on the scalp of the patients as the real coil but delivers no magnetic stimulation to the brain. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Clinician-confirmed diagnosis of PD
- Ability to provide informed consent, written and verbal
- Clinician-diagnosed impulse control disorder or impulse control behaviors including punding/hobbyism and dopamine dysregulation syndrome
- A Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck et al., 1961) score of 14 or lower
- A Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (Nasreddine et al., 2005) score of 20 or higher
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- History of brain lesions (such as multiple sclerosis, tumor) reported
- History of vascular issues in the brain, such as stroke
- History of a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Meeting the criteria for a major psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia or depression (BDI score of 14 or higher).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| rTMS ActiveThe participants undergo Active rTMS, approximately 10-15 min and then complete tasks and questionnaires. | Device | rTMS Active |
| rTMS ShamThe participants undergo Sham rTMS, approximately 10-15 min and then complete tasks and questionnaires. | Device | rTMS Sham |
Primary outcome
Change in Delay-Discounting
Time frame: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention
Change in performance on a task assessing delay-discounting. Delay-discounting assesses the participants' impulsivity by requiring them to make choices between smaller sooner hypothetical money rewards and larger later hypothetical money rewards (e.g. $10 today vs $100 in a year). This is a hypothetical choice, and the participant will not be receiving the chosen rewards. A short preliminary version of the task will be completed at the start of the first session (prior to TMS) to optimize task parameters for each participant. The task will be completed on a laptop computer.
Change in Reinforcement Learning
Time frame: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention
Change in performance on a task assessing reinforcement learning. The reinforcement learning task assesses how well participants learn from rewards vs. punishments. The task will ask participants to choose from two stimuli that predict reward (gaining points) or punishment (losing points) at different rates, which they will learn in the course of the task based on feedback. At the end of the task, participants will be asked to rate how well each stimulus predicted reward or punishment.
1 secondary outcome
Change in impulse control disorder symptoms
Time frame: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Apr 2026.
Related trials for Impulse Control Disorder
Recruiting
STIMPulseControl Ancillary Speech Study
Parkinson Disease, Impulse Control Disorder
Recruiting
Bilateral Subthalamic Stimulation in PD Patients With Impulse Control Disorders - STIMPulseControl
Parkinson Disease, Impulse Control Disorders
Recruiting
Efficacy of a Prediction Model-based Algorithm to PREVENT Drug-induced Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson Disease, Impulse Control Disorder
RecruitingPhase 1
Feasibility of Accelerated, Personalized rTMS as an Adjuvant for Impulse Control Disorders: a Pilot Study
Impulse Control Disorder
Enrolling by invitation
Controlled Evaluation of an Exercise Program for Overweight Adolescents
Adolescent, Pediatric Obesity
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Mariya V Cherkasova, PhD principal investigator
West Virginia University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing rTMS Active in people with Impulse Control Disorder and Parkinson Disease, run by West Virginia University 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 6 inclusion and 10 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Apr 2026. 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. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mariya V Cherkasova, PhD (2403673068, mariya.cherkasova@mail.wvu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Delay-Discounting (time frame: Baseline to 1 hour following the intervention). 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 20 Apr 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.