Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSDNCT07900841
FUS Neuromodulation for PTSD
A study testing Focused Ultrasound in people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, run by West Virginia University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to see if a focused ultrasound neuromodulation can be safely and effectively used to treat symptoms of PTSD Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
- What is being tested?
- Focused Ultrasound
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 25 Nov 2026to 30 Dec 2029
- 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 20 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
- Males and non-pregnant females aged 20 - 65 years at time of enrollment.
- Able and willing to give informed consent.
- Diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5-TR criteria
- Prior treatment failure or partial response to at least one evidence-based therapy for PTSD (pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic).
- Currently are under the care of a psychiatrist or other mental health care provider and agrees to promptly inform the investigator or the study staff of any change in these providers.
- If on prescribed medication for the treatment of PTSD, or for any other underlying psychiatric conditions, must be on a stable dose (stable dose is defined as within the therapeutic range but does not require same exact dose) for ≥4 weeks prior to screening.
- If engaged in psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD, or for any other underlying psychiatric condition, therapy must be stable and ongoing for ≥4 weeks prior to screening.
- Willing to not receive any other experimental treatment for PTSD during the study period.
- Willing to cooperate with the study requirements, including compliance with the regimen, admission requirements, completion of all study visits, and study assessments.
- Able to communicate sensations during the FUS procedure.
- Willing to undergo stress induction before, during, and/or after the procedure that may be triggered by trauma-related cueing.
- Participants of reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraceptive methods while participating in the study.
A candidate will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Unable to undergo MR-imaging because of non-MR compatible implants or if candidates are uncomfortable in small spaces (have claustrophobia).
- Clinically significant MRI abnormality indicative of a neurological condition or abnormality that may jeopardize the participant's safety, study conduct, or confound the participant's diagnostic assessments.
- Participants who are unable or unwilling to lay flat/sit and tolerate the required prolonged stationary position during treatment (approximately 1-2 hours).
- History of any clinically significant neurological disorder or condition (e.g., brain surgery in basal ganglion region, brain tumors, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, medically uncontrolled epilepsy, or any others deemed clinically significant by the investigator).
- Use of medications that significantly lower the seizure threshold or interfere with neuromodulation safety, as determined by the study physician.
- Currently participating in another clinical investigation with an active treatment arm or participated in any experimental therapy (drug or biologic or device) within 3 months prior to Screening.
- A current or reasonably anticipated ongoing traumatic context, including violence, abuse, credible threats, stalking, exploitation, continued traumatic contact with a perpetrator, or an unsafe living environment, that would materially compromise the participant's safety or ability to participate in the study intervention or assessments.
- High Acute Risk of Suicide as determined clinically, including, but not limited to, current suicidal ideation, intent, or plan.
- High Acute Risk of Homicide as determined clinically, including, but not limited to, current homicidal ideation, intent, or plan.
- Clinically significant level of depression requiring further and/or imminent intervention as indicated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
- Participant is pregnant/lactating or planning to be pregnant.
- Past or present diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder.
- Past or present diagnosis of a Personality Disorder-Cluster B.
- Current or ongoing legal issues that may interfere with study participation.
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
WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505
Victor Finomore, PhD, 3042760500, vfinomore@hsc.wvu.edu
Padma Tirumalai, PhD, 3042760500, ptirumalai@hsc.wvu.edu
About this study
Official title: A Prospective Early Feasibility Study of Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation for PTSD
The purpose of this study is to see if a focused ultrasound neuromodulation can be safely and effectively used to treat symptoms of PTSD
Read the detailed description
This open-label early feasibility study investigates low intensity focused ultrasound (FUS), in participants with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The primary objective is to test the safety and feasibility of FUS in this population.
- Conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
- Being tested
- Focused Ultrasound
- Keywords
- Neuromodulation, Focused Ultrasound
- Medical subject headings
- Combat Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Focused UltrasoundDevice
Also called NaviFus
Subjects will undergo a single focused ultrasound Neuromodulation of the target brain region
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | FUS Neuromodulation Receives: Device: Focused Ultrasound |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events
All adverse events that are related to FUS treatment will be assessed
Measured: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in PTSD Symptoms
Changes in trauma-related symptoms as assessed by CAPS-5
Measured: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Change in PTSD Symptoms
Changes in trauma-related symptoms as assessed by PTSD checklist PCL5
Measured: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Change in Depression
Change in depression using the Hamilton Depression rating Scale (HAMD)
Measured: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Change in anxiety
Change in anxiety as measured by Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD7)
Measured: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Suicidal behavior
Change in suicidal behavior using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Measured: Week 4 an 12 compared to baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Oct 2026
- Study start25 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSDStudies 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Prospective open label single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- West Virginia University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ali Rezai, West Virginia University
- Investigators
- Ali Rezai, Principal investigator, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07900841
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NMD_PTSD
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Prospective Early Feasibility Study of Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation for PTSD
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07900841
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NMD_PTSD
- Conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
- Keywords
- Neuromodulation, Focused Ultrasound
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- West Virginia UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Oct 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.
The purpose of this study is to see if a focused ultrasound neuromodulation can be safely and effectively used to treat symptoms of PTSD
Detailed description
This open-label early feasibility study investigates low intensity focused ultrasound (FUS), in participants with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The primary objective is to test the safety and feasibility of FUS in this population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Prospective open label single group
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Device: Focused UltrasoundFUS Neuromodulation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Focused UltrasoundAlso: NaviFusSubjects will undergo a single focused ultrasound Neuromodulation of the target brain region | Device | Treatment |
Primary outcome
Occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events
Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
All adverse events that are related to FUS treatment will be assessed
5 secondary outcomes
Change in PTSD Symptoms
Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Change in PTSD Symptoms
Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Change in Depression
Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Change in anxiety
Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline
Suicidal behavior
Time frame: Week 4 an 12 compared to baseline
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 28 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
Ali Rezai principal investigator
WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Focused Ultrasound in people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, 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?
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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 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. 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 Matthew Zell, MD (304-293-8182, mzell@hsc.wvu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline). 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 Oct 2026.