Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)ALGOSTIMNCT07361692
Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the Management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
A study testing transcranial direct current stimulation in people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), run by Polyclinique de l'Europe at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive therapy increasingly used in facilities treating patients with chronic pain. This complementary therapy has the advantage of being non-pharmacological, with transient and mild side effects, an excellent safety profile, and good efficacy in the contexts… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- What is being tested?
- transcranial direct current stimulation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to Jun 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
- Major
- Clinically active or active complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with positive Budapest criteria
- Scintigraphy showing signs consistent with CRPS
- Being affiliated with or a beneficiary of a social security scheme
Who cannot join
- Algodystrophy no longer meeting the Budapest criteria
- Relative contraindication to tDCS: psychosis (including treated psychosis), uncontrolled epilepsy, large scalp scar, intracerebral/intracranial metallic body
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Minors
- Persons under legal protection (guardianship, conservatorship, and protective supervision)
- Persons deprived of their liberty by judicial or administrative order
- Unwilling individuals who cannot give their consent or cannot return for scheduled visits according to the protocol
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Polyclinique de l'Europe
Saint-Nazaire, 44600
Valentin BILLARD, 02 51 16 16 16, vbillard@vivalto-sante.com
About this study
Official title: Study of the Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the Management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive therapy increasingly used in facilities treating patients with chronic pain. This complementary therapy has the advantage of being non-pharmacological, with transient and mild side effects, an excellent safety profile, and good efficacy in the contexts where it has been the subject of dedicated research: neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and visceral pain. Few studies have focused on the application of tDCS in the context of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which is a common condition.
Read the detailed description
This protocol aims to compare a group receiving a tDCS protocol with a sham control group. The hypothesis of this study is that tDCS is effective in treating CRPS in terms of reducing pain and the functional and emotional consequences of pain.
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS on pain in patients with CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), measured by the numerical pain scale (EN), after one month of treatment and one month after the end of treatment, compared to the sham arm.
The secondary objectives are:
- To assess anxiety and depression symptoms (HAD)
- To assess the functional impact of pain (Concise Pain Questionnaire - QCD)
- To assess central sensitization (Central Sensitization Inventory - CSI)
- To identify adverse effects related to tDCS
- Conditions
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Being tested
- transcranial direct current stimulation, Placebo
- Keywords
- Transcranial direct current stimulation, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, pain, quality of life, anxiety, central sensitization
- Medical subject headings
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, Pain, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
transcranial direct current stimulationOther
progressive increase in stimulation intensity up to 2 mA, then continuation at a plateau for a total of 20 minutes, then a decrease in stimulation intensity for 30 seconds at the end of the session before an automatic stop.
PlaceboOther
The stimulation intensity is gradually increased up to 2 mA for 1 minute, then decreased to zero stimulation. A further increase in stimulation is programmed 10 minutes after the start of stimulation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patient group receiving tDCS stimulation | Experimental | Progressive increase in stimulation intensity up to 2 mA, then continuation at a plateau for a total of 20 minutes, then a decrease in stimulation intensity for 30 seconds at the end of the session before an automatic stop. Receives: Other: transcranial direct current stimulation |
| Patient group receiving tDCS placebo stimulation | Placebo comparator | Control group : The stimulation intensity is gradually increased up to 2 mA for 1 minute, then decreased to zero stimulation. A further increase in stimulation is programmed 10 minutes after the start of stimulation. Receives: Other: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Analog Visual Scale
Measured: one month post treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026
- Primary completion1 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- 32 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Polyclinique de l'Europe
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07361692
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-20-ESN
- Acronym
- ALGOSTIM
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Study of the Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the Management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07361692
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ALGOSTIM / 2025-20-ESN
- Conditions
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Keywords
- Transcranial direct current stimulation, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, pain, quality of life, anxiety, central sensitization
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Polyclinique de l'EuropeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jan 2026 (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.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive therapy increasingly used in facilities treating patients with chronic pain. This complementary therapy has the advantage of being non-pharmacological, with transient and mild side effects, an excellent safety profile, and good efficacy in the contexts where it has been the subject of dedicated research: neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and visceral pain. Few studies have focused on the application of tDCS in the context of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which is a common condition.
Detailed description
This protocol aims to compare a group receiving a tDCS protocol with a sham control group. The hypothesis of this study is that tDCS is effective in treating CRPS in terms of reducing pain and the functional and emotional consequences of pain.
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS on pain in patients with CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), measured by the numerical pain scale (EN), after one month of treatment and one month after the end of treatment, compared to the sham arm.
The secondary objectives are:
- To assess anxiety and depression symptoms (HAD)
- To assess the functional impact of pain (Concise Pain Questionnaire - QCD)
- To assess central sensitization (Central Sensitization Inventory - CSI)
- To identify adverse effects related to tDCS
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patient group receiving tDCS stimulation | Experimental | Other: transcranial direct current stimulationProgressive increase in stimulation intensity up to 2 mA, then continuation at a plateau for a total of 20 minutes, then a decrease in stimulation intensity for 30 seconds at the end of the session before an automatic stop. |
| Patient group receiving tDCS placebo stimulation | Placebo comparator | Other: PlaceboControl group : The stimulation intensity is gradually increased up to 2 mA for 1 minute, then decreased to zero stimulation. A further increase in stimulation is programmed 10 minutes after the start of stimulation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Major
- Clinically active or active complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with positive Budapest criteria
- Scintigraphy showing signs consistent with CRPS
- Being affiliated with or a beneficiary of a social security scheme
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Algodystrophy no longer meeting the Budapest criteria
- Relative contraindication to tDCS: psychosis (including treated psychosis), uncontrolled epilepsy, large scalp scar, intracerebral/intracranial metallic body
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Minors
- Persons under legal protection (guardianship, conservatorship, and protective supervision)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| transcranial direct current stimulationprogressive increase in stimulation intensity up to 2 mA, then continuation at a plateau for a total of 20 minutes, then a decrease in stimulation intensity for 30 seconds at the end of the session before an automatic stop. | Other | Patient group receiving tDCS stimulation |
| PlaceboThe stimulation intensity is gradually increased up to 2 mA for 1 minute, then decreased to zero stimulation. A further increase in stimulation is programmed 10 minutes after the start of stimulation. | Other | Patient group receiving tDCS placebo stimulation |
Primary outcome
Analog Visual Scale
Time frame: one month post treatment
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 18 Jun 2026.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing transcranial direct current stimulation in people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), run by Polyclinique de l'Europe at 1 site in France.
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 4 inclusion and 7 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 18 Jun 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 France. 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 Valentin Billard (02 51 16 16 16, vbillard@vivalto-sante.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Analog Visual Scale (time frame: one month post treatment). 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 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.