Accelerated Neuromodulation for Concurrent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Chronic Pain in Veterans

NCT07192536 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 4

• 1 other identifier: Pro00083064
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The ANCHOR study is testing a novel, non-invasive brain stimulation program designed specifically for Veterans experiencing concurrent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. These conditions often occur together and can greatly impact daily life. Current treatments options for PTSD and chronic pain are limited, may come with severe side-effects, and often take weeks if not months to see results. In this study, participants will receive an intensive one-week course of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a Health Canada-approved technology already used for depression. In this study, it is being tested for its potential to reduce both PTSD and chronic pain symptoms. This clinical trial will recruit 30 Veterans, all of whom will receive the active treatment (there is no placebo). Participants will receive 5-6 sessions of iTBS per day (each treatment lasts approximately 3 minutes) over a period of 5 days (one week total duration). Researchers will track changes in PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, mood, anxiety, daily functioning, and cognitive performance at 4 time points: baseline (before treatment), at the end of treatment ( end of week 1), and at 2 follow-up assessments (3 weeks and 6 weeks after the end of treatment). The goal of this study is to determine whether this unique brain stimulation program is able to treat concurrent PTSD and chronic pain in Canadian Veterans. This study also aims to lay the groundwork for larger trials that could expand access to innovative treatments for the Veteran community.

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Keywords

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); PTSD; chronic pain; Veterans; Theta burst stimulation; Brain stimulation; Neuromodulation; Military; Accelerated treatment protocol

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score

  The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report checklist of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms based closely on the DSM-5 criteria. Respondents rate each item from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely") to indicate the degree to which they have been bothered by that particular symptom over the past month (or past week if using the PCL-5 weekly). A total symptom severity score (range: 0-80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items, with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD symptoms. A score greater than 33 is typically used to indicate severity sufficient for a PTSD diagnosis

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

• Change in Chronic Pain Grade Scale (CPGS) score

  The CPGS assesses two dimensions of overall chronic pain severity: pain intensity and pain-related disability. It is suitable for use in all chronic pain conditions. Participants must score 'Grade I, II, or III' on the CPGS at screening to qualify for the study. Each questions is scored using a 11-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more pain.

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

• Change in Pain Disability Index (PDI) score

  The PDI is designed to measure the degree to which aspects of a participant's life are disrupted by chronic pain. In other words, how much pain is preventing them from doing what they would normally do or from doing it as well as they normally would. Participants will be asked to respond to each category indicating the overall impact of pain in their life, not just when pain is at its worst. The total PDI score can range from 0 to 70, a higher score indicating more disruption with functioning across a range of activities.

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

• Change in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

• Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

• Change in General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) score

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

• Change in Inventory of Psychosocial functioning (IPF) score

  Baseline to End of Treatment (end of week 1), Follow up Assessments (week 3, week 6 after nil-treatment)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Program Feasibility will be assessed using the Reach framework

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Study Arms (1)

Accelerated Neuromodulation Treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), is a non-invasive treatment that uses brief magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. This treatment delivers pulses in very short bursts that mimic natural brain rhythms, and may be effective in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. Each treatment takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. In this open label, single arm study, participants will undergo an accelerated treatment schedule over a period of 5 days. On day 1, participants will receive 1-2 sessions, and on days 3-5 they will receive 5-6 sessions per day (with a 45 minute break between each iTBS session).

Device: Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Interventions

Transcranial magnetic stimulation DEVICE

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) will be delivered via the Magstim Horizon 3.0 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation device. This device has been authorized by Health Canada (License No.: 111334, Type: System, Device class: 3 Device first issue date 2024-06-04, License name: HORIZON 3.0 TMS THERAPY SYSTEM) and is indicated for use in treating mild depressive disorder. The device will be used off-label as a potential treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain in this Investigator-Initiated study. rTMS will be delivered using modified intermittent theta burst accelerated bilateral treatments (MITAB), combining low frequency 1HZ to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) with high frequency intermittent theta burst to the left dlPFC, up to 6 times per day for 5 days.

Accelerated Neuromodulation Treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults (\>19years age) with symptoms of both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain, confirmed by clinical interview and rating scales (CAPS-5 \& CPGS) performed at screening visit
• a. Participants must score either 'Moderate' or 'Severe' on the CAPS-5 scale, and 'Grade I, II, or III' on the CPGS to qualify
• Any sex and gender identity
• Willing and able to attend all study visits and adhere to treatment plan, including the use of a personal computer to complete at-home questionnaires
• Able to understand the informed consent form, study procedures and willing to participate in study
• Able to perform the testing required by the study

You may not qualify if:

• Exhibiting significant suicide risk, as defined by:
• a. suicidal ideation as indicated by items 4 or 5 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) within the past six months, at screening visit
• demonstrating suicidal behaviours or non-suicidal self-injury within the past six months, or;
• clinical assessment of significant suicidal risk or risk of self-injury during participant interview
• Participants who are pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy
• Participants who engage in sexual intercourse which could result in pregnancy, and who do not agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method throughout their participation in the study
• Any other clinically significant neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, vascular or any other major concurrent illness that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may interfere with the interpretation of the study results or constitute a health risk for the participant if he/she takes part in the study
• Have participated in another clinical trial within the last 30 days or are currently enrolled in another interventional clinical trial
• Individuals who have active or inactive implants (including device leads), including deep brain stimulators, cochlear implants, and vagus nerve stimulators, as well as metallic implants such as electrodes, stents, clips, pins, plates, screws, braces, or other metallic objects such as shrapnel or permanent jewelry.
• The presence of ferrous metal pins or plates in or near the head (within 30 cm of the coil). Including implanted electrodes/stimulators, aneurysm clips or coils, stents, bullet fragments, or other implants.
• Individuals who have history of epilepsy or unexplained seizure history.
• Uncontrolled/severe symptomatic cardiovascular disease states including: recent myocardial infarction (within prior 6 months); history of stroke; and hypertension (resting blood pressure \>150/100)
• History of intracranial mass, intracranial haemorrhage/stroke, cerebral trauma/traumatic brain injury or increased intracranial pressure
• Any defects in the neurocranium (e.g. after skull trepanation)
• Skin diseases of the scalp

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Legion Veterans Village Research Foundation: lead

Study Sites (1)

Brainstim Health

Surrey, British Columbia, V3Z 1H8, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Magnetic Field Therapy; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Venugopal Karapereddy, FRCP(C)

  University of British Columbia (UBC); Brainstim Health;

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Cyrana C Gallay, MSc, PhD Candidate

CONTACT

360-820-3451; research@brainstim.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 4
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Psychiatrist; Clinical Assistant Professor (University of British Columbia)

Model Details: This preliminary clinical study is an open label, non-randomized, single group, proof of concept design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 31, 2025
• First Posted: September 25, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: November 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)