NCT03210155

Brief Summary

The birth of a child is a major life event that can be filled with excitement, anticipation and joy. However, the transition and adaptation to new demands, roles, responsibilities, and changes in relationships can be stressful, especially for new mothers. In addition, new mothers typically encounter physiological changes and struggle with concerns about weight gain, body image, sexuality, and other physical difficulties such as fatigue. These problems may generate or exacerbate stress, lead to an actual or perceived crisis and psychological distress. Psychological distress, defined as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, in this study, often increases during the postpartum period and can negatively affect maternal mental health status, maternal and family relationships, and infant-child health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) on anxiety, insomnia, depression, and maternal functioning in first time new mothers following childbirth.

Trial Health

57
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
1

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable anxiety

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2017

Typical duration for not_applicable anxiety

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
terminated

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 25, 2017

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 6, 2017

Completed
18 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 24, 2017

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2019

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2019

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

August 17, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

August 17, 2020

Status Verified

July 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

June 25, 2017

Results QC Date

July 15, 2020

Last Update Submit

July 31, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES)EfficacyPost PartumAnxietyDepressionInsomniaSleep QualityMaternal Functioning

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale Scores Over Time

    Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A14): The HAM-A probes 14 parameters. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0=not present to 4=severe and combined to compute a total score. Higher total scores suggest worse outcomes Total score: 14-17 = Mild Anxiety Total score: 18-24 = Moderate Anxiety Total score: 25-30 = Severe Anxiety

    T1 (Baseline); T2 (3 weeks); T3 (6 Weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Scores Over Time

    T1 (Baseline); T2 (3 weeks); T3 (6 Weeks)

  • Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale Scores Over Time

    T1 (Baseline); T2 (3 weeks); T3 (6 weeks)

  • Insomnia Severity Index Scores Over Time

    T1 (baseline); T2 (3 weeks); T3 (6 weeks)

  • Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning Scores Over Time

    T1 (baseline); T2 (3 weeks); T3 (6 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Active Comparator

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

About the size of a smart phone, the Alpha-Stim® AID CES device delivers a mild electrical current (100-500 µA) to the brain via ear clips electrodes. The active intervention is one daily 60 minutes Alpha-Stim® CES treatment using ear clip electrodes for 6 weeks at 0.5 Hz. 50% duty cycle with a fixed current of 100 µA (subsensory level).

Device: Alpha-Stim AID CES (Active Comparator)

Sham Comparator

SHAM COMPARATOR

The Alpha-Stim® AID CES sham device is identical in appearance to the active device but is inactive and does not emit electrical current to the brain via ear clip electrodes. The sham intervention is one daily 60 minutes Alpha-Stim® CES treatment using ear clip electrodes for 6 weeks.

Device: Alpha-Stim AID CES (Sham Comparator)

Interventions

The Alpha-Stim® AID CES device delivers a mild electrical current (100-500 µA) to the brain via ear clips electrodes. The treatment regimen is one daily 60 minutes Alpha-Stim® CES treatment using ear clip electrodes for 6 weeks at 0.5 Hz. 50% duty cycle with a fixed current of 100 µA (subsensory level).

Also known as: Alpha-Stim AID
Active Comparator

The Alpha-Stim® AID CES sham device is inactive and does not emit electrical current to the brain via ear clip electrodes. The sham treatment regimen is one daily 60 minutes Alpha-Stim® CES treatment using ear clip electrodes for 6 weeks.

Also known as: Alpha-Stim AID
Sham Comparator

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 45 Years
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Participant is a primiparous new mother, 18-45 years inclusive, who had an uncomplicated vaginal or cesarean birth, gave birth to a healthy baby and both mother and baby are healthy at enrollment and randomization in the study.
  • Sexually active female participants of childbearing potential must be self-report practicing, at least, one or more the following methods of contraception during the study: intrauterine device (IUD), barrier method in combination with a spermicide, oral/hormonal contraception or abstinence. Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test before receiving study treatment.
  • Written informed consent must be obtained from the participant before study participation.
  • Participant is in good medical health.
  • No current abuse of alcohol or other substance.
  • Capable of giving informed consent.
  • Capable of doing active or sham CES treatments and completing all study requirements independently
  • For compliance, participants need to have completed 85% (36) of treatments to continue participation in the study

You may not qualify if:

  • Participant had serious complications during or after a vaginal or cesarean delivery.
  • Participant had multiple births.
  • Participant meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-V criteria for a mental disorder diagnosis (i.e., schizophrenia, mood disorder, psychosis, anorexia nervosa) as determined by medical history and/or self-report.
  • Participant is clinically judged by the investigator to be at risk for suicide or is acutely suicidal. Participant has attempted suicide one or more times within the past twelve months.
  • Participant has a Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A14) score above 30 which suggests a very severe clinical level of anxiety symptoms.
  • Participant has a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17) score above 30 which suggests a very severe clinical level of depressive symptoms.
  • Participant has a psychiatric condition that would require inpatient or partial psychiatric hospitalization.
  • Participant has a significant history of medical disease (i.e. cardiovascular, hepatic (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C) renal, gynecological, musculoskeletal, neurological (seizures), gastrointestinal, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, cancer with a metastatic potential or progressive neurological disorders) which could impair reliable participation in the trial or necessitate the use of medication not allowed by this protocol.
  • Participant is pregnant, planning to become pregnant. If a participant becomes pregnant, she will be dropped from the study immediately and followed appropriately.
  • Participant has had concomitant therapy with another investigational drug, or participation in an investigational drug study within one month before entering this study.
  • Participant has a history of poor compliance or in the investigator's judgment any participant who is not compliant with the requirements of the study.
  • Participant has had previous trial of CES.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Primay care; OB-GYN Clinic

Austin, Texas, 78758, United States

Location

Primary care; OB-GYN Clinic

Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Murphey C, Carter P, Price LR, Champion JD, Nichols F. Psychological Distress in Healthy Low-Risk First-Time Mothers during the Postpartum Period: An Exploratory Study. Nurs Res Pract. 2017;2017:8415083. doi: 10.1155/2017/8415083. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

    PMID: 28191350BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety DisordersDepressionSleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental DisordersBehavioral SymptomsBehaviorSleep Disorders, IntrinsicDyssomniasSleep Wake DisordersNervous System Diseases

Limitations and Caveats

Early termination due to change in recruitment site and search team members

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Christina Murphey
Organization
Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

Study Officials

  • Christina Murphey, RN, PhD

    Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
The blocked randomization method will be used to assign participants to active and sham groups. Participants will be assigned to CES treatment or sham CES using a 1:1 ratio. Electromedical Products International, Inc. (EPI) will randomize the assignment of appropriate devices to active or sham groups by using a random list of computer generated numbers (1 for active and 2 for sham) in randomly selected block sizes. The PI and participants are blinded to which participants have Alpha-Stim® CES active or sham devices until data analysis is complete. After the completion of data analysis, blinding will be broken.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: The design for the proposed study is a matched-pair, quasi-experimental, 1:1 randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial with a longitudinal component. The analytic technique employed to answer the research questions will be repeated measures analysis of covariance.
Sponsor Type
INDIV
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 25, 2017

First Posted

July 6, 2017

Study Start

July 24, 2017

Primary Completion

August 1, 2019

Study Completion

August 1, 2019

Last Updated

August 17, 2020

Results First Posted

August 17, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations