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Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryPhase 1NCT05647044

Frontal iTBS for Impulsivity and Suicidal Ideation in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

A Phase 1 study testing intermittent theta burst stimulation in people with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicidal Ideation, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators hope to develop a treatment for suicidal ideation (SI), impulsivity and functional impairments (such as difficulties in social and work settings) that occur after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These conditions have been shown to be linked. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 22 to 65 years
What is being tested?
intermittent theta burst stimulation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
55 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
20 May 2024to 31 Mar 2028
Phase
Phase 1
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 22 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 22-65 years of age
  • can read and speak English
  • meets criteria for mTBI according to the symptom attribution and classification (SACA) scale
  • Has a C-SSRS (suicidal ideation rating) of >1 within the past month
  • Has a history of impulsivity documented in the medical chart and/or a score of >20 on the UPPS-P negative urgency impulsivity subscale

Who cannot join

  • Has contraindications to iTBS (i.e., epilepsy)
  • Has contraindications to MRI (i.e., claustrophobia, ferromagnetic metal implants)
  • Has an active substance use disorder per the DSM-V criteria
  • Has a history of moderate to severe TBI
  • Has a history of non-traumatic neuroinjury (i.e., stroke, neurosurgery, hemorrhage)
  • Has a history of, or current psychosis not due to an external cause
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Is pregnant
  • Has an active, unstable medical condition
  • Is within 12 weeks of a major surgery or operation
  • Is within 1 year of TBI

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Alexandra L Aaronson, MD contact

(708) 202-8387

Alexandra.Aaronson@va.gov

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL

    Hines, Illinois, 60141-3030

    William Wolf, PhD, 708-202-5689, William.Wolf@va.gov

    Gabriella G Amador, Gabriella.Amador@va.gov

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Neuromodulation for Impulsivity and Suicidality in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions

The investigators hope to develop a treatment for suicidal ideation (SI), impulsivity and functional impairments (such as difficulties in social and work settings) that occur after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These conditions have been shown to be linked. The investigators are using a high-powered magnetic pulse, called intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) applied to the head to see if it can improve these symptoms. The high-powered magnetic pulse causes certain cells in the brain to activate, which seems to strengthen connections between parts of the brain. The purpose of this research is to gather early information on the safety and effectiveness of iTBS provided to the front of the head for impulsivity, SI and functional deficits after mTBI. The investigators plan to use the data collected in this study to develop larger studies in the future. iTBS is FDA approved, but not for these specific symptoms, or in the specific location the investigators are placing it. The investigators are testing to see if its effective for the above conditions when applied to the front of the head.

Read the detailed description

Individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are at increased risk of dying by suicide compared to those without - both among Veteran and civilian populations. 22% of Veterans with mTBI report struggling with suicidal ideation (SI). Despite this, there are no effective evidence-based treatments for co-occurring mTBI and SI. Deficits in social and occupational functioning, which often follow mTBI, are strongly related to suicidal ideation (SI) and improvements in these areas are known to lessen SI. Thus, improving function for those with mTBI and SI is of great potential significance. The impulsivity that Veterans with mTBI exhibit is referred to as "negative urgency impulsivity". It often involves aggressive and self-harming behaviors, which impede societal re-integration and rehabilitation. Prior studies indicate negative urgency impulsivity is: (1) a common TBI sequela and (2) a risk factor for SI. Previous studies have also indicated individuals with TBI, SI and negative urgency impulsivity had reduced right-sided ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) volume compared to Veterans without these conditions. The VMPFC plays a key role in controlling impulsive limbic responses. These findings are consistent with published reports suggesting individuals with reduced VMPFC volume are more likely to (a) have SI and (b) behave impulsively.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) holds significant therapeutic promise for post-mTBI SI, impulsivity and functional deficits. TMS induces neuroplasticity, leading to changes that have the potential to improve neurorehabilitation outcomes. TMS is effective for treating post-TBI depression when administered to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a "second generation" form of TMS that is delivered more rapidly. It has been proposed that frontal pole TMS could directly strengthen connections throughout the prefrontal cortex, including the VMPFC, thereby dampening limbic system activity. Such a TMS treatment strategy could be used to treat post-mTBI impulsivity and SI, ultimately allowing Veterans to regain functioning. It is not know which Veterans would benefit most from this treatment; examining neural connectivity changes before and after iTBS could determine who would respond to frontal pole iTBS and why.

The investigators will conduct a randomized, double-blinded frontal iTBS pilot clinical trial for Veterans with mTBI, impulsivity and SI. As this is a novel treatment approach for this population, this project will focus on testing the safety, feasibility and tolerability of frontal pole iTBS. To inform future research, this project will determine the preliminary effects of iTBS on functioning, negative urgency impulsivity and SI among the pilot sample. This project will also inform future research by examining the relationships between the functional neural connectivity of the VMPFC to the limbic system and how this is affected by iTBS using resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) neuroimaging data, pre- and post-iTBS.

Being tested
intermittent theta burst stimulation, placebo intermittent theta burst stimulation
Keywords
brain concussion, brain injuries, traumatic, brain injuries, self-injurious behavior, suicide, attempted, suicide, impulsive behavior, risk-taking, brain diseases, craniocerebral trauma, social problems, mental disorders
Medical subject headings
Brain Concussion, Suicidal Ideation, Impulsive Behavior, Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Brain Injuries, Self-Injurious Behavior, Suicide, Attempted, Suicide

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • intermittent theta burst stimulationDevice

    Also called iTBS

    intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) will be delivered with the Magventure MagProX100 with MagOption stimulation and Magpro Cool Coil B65 A/P. The Magpro Cool Coil B65 A/P can be switched to active or placebo. The Magventure C-B60 coil will be used to deliver single TMS pulses for motor threshold determination.

  • placebo intermittent theta burst stimulationDevice

    Also called placebo iTBS

    intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) will be delivered with the Magventure MagProX100 with MagOption stimulation and Magpro Cool Coil B65 A/P. The Magpro Cool Coil B65 A/P can be switched to active or placebo. The Magventure C-B60 coil will be used to deliver single TMS pulses for motor threshold determination.

Study groups in NCT05647044
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
active iTBSActive comparatorSubjects receiving active iTBS treatment
Receives: Device: intermittent theta burst stimulation
placebo iTBSPlacebo comparatorSubjects receiving placebo (sham) iTBS treatment
Receives: Device: placebo intermittent theta burst stimulation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Session Completion Rate

    For establish intervention feasibility and tolerability, the study will tract the number of completed iTBS sessions and compute completion percentage rates for each participant.

    Measured: Endpoint - after last iTBS session, approximately 2 weeks

  2. Change in Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS)

    The Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment scale is a rating, given by a trained medical provider, of an individual's ability to perform basic functioning (such as hygiene, maintaining a job, having social relationships). The scale is from 10, meaning unable to function without harming self or others, to 100, meaning superior functioning in all areas. The investigators will be assessing this at subject's baseline, after 1 week of treatment (5 treatment sessions, at the end of week 1) and at study completion (approximately 2 weeks after study starts) to see if there is a change over time in this measure.

    Measured: Rated at baseline, study midpoint (at the end of week 1) and study completion, approximately 2 weeks after study begins

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Change in Columbia Suicide severity rating scale (C-SSRS)

    The C-SSRS is a short questionnaire addressing any recent suicidal thoughts or behaviors that have occurred. A score of 0 means there have been no suicidal thoughts or behaviors, anything above a 0 means some element of suicidality has been experienced by the test-taker. The investigators will be assessing this at subject's baseline, after 1 week of treatment (5 treatment sessions, at the end of week 1), and at study completion (approximately 2 weeks after study starts) to see if there is a change over time in this measure.

    Measured: Rated at baseline, study midpoint (at the end of week 1) and study completion, approximately 2 weeks after study begins.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Dec 2022
  2. Study start20 May 2024
  3. Primary completion31 Mar 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Mar 2028 (estimated)

Resources

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 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Magventure MagProX100 with MagOption stimulator and Magpro Cool Coil B65 A/P and Magpro C-B60
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
55 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05647044
Sponsor's protocol ID
D4298-W
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
15 Nov 2022
Last updated
14 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes: A de-identified data set will be created and shared. Final data sets will be made available as per Hines VA Hospital local policy for long term storage and access until enterprise-level resources become available. These data will be available upon request by researchers and scientists in accordance with federal guidelines and Hines local policy. The data provided will be sufficient for anyone to perform analogous or supplemental analyses that would permit validation of the analysis and results. The sharing of data will enable others to evaluate the data and to validate and interpret the data independently. In order to ensure that replication is possible and transparency, statistical code complementary to datasets will be made available through the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research Informatics System

Publications

  • Bernanke A, Hasley R, Sabetfakhri N, de Wit H, Smith BM, Wang L, Brenner LA, Hanlon C, Philip NS, Ajilore O, Herrold A, Aaronson A. Frontal Pole Neuromodulation for Impulsivity and Suicidality in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Dec 13;13:e58206. doi: 10.2196/58206.

    PubMed 39671573

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing intermittent theta burst stimulation in people with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicidal Ideation, run by VA Office of Research and Development 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 5 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 14 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.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

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 Alexandra L Aaronson, MD ((708) 202-8387, Alexandra.Aaronson@va.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Session Completion Rate (time frame: Endpoint - after last iTBS session, approximately 2 weeks). 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?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05647044, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 14 Apr 2026.

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