Anxiety DisordersNCT07405463
Effects of tDCS on Fear Reversal in Patients With Anxiety Disorders
A study testing Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC), Anodal tDCS (vmPFC) and Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC) in people with Anxiety Disorders, run by Jingchu Hu at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study evaluates the effects of single-session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on fear reversal learning in patients with anxiety disorders. Participants will be randomized into four groups to receive either active stimulation targeting specific brain regions (right DLPFC or vmPFC), an active… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety Disorders
- What is being tested?
- Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC), Anodal tDCS (vmPFC) and Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2025to 1 Dec 2028
- 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 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 60 years old. Right-handed. Meeting the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Gambling Disorder (GD). South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score ≥ 5. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing. Willingness to provide written informed consent and participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- History of other severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression) or neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, brain tumor).
- History of substance abuse or dependence (excluding nicotine) in the past 6 months.
- Current use of psychotropic medications that may affect cortical excitability (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants).
- Presence of metallic implants in the head or neck area (e.g., cochlear implants, aneurysm clips) or cardiac pacemakers.
- Skin lesions or sensitivity at the stimulation sites on the scalp. Pregnancy or lactation. Participation in other neuromodulation studies within the last 3 months.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Intervention on Fear Reversal in Patients With Anxiety Disorders
This study evaluates the effects of single-session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on fear reversal learning in patients with anxiety disorders. Participants will be randomized into four groups to receive either active stimulation targeting specific brain regions (right DLPFC or vmPFC), an active control stimulation, or sham stimulation. The main goal is to determine if modulating these brain areas can improve the ability to update safety and threat associations.
Read the detailed description
Anxiety disorders are characterized by deficits in fear regulation and cognitive flexibility, specifically the inability to inhibit fear responses when a threat becomes safe (fear reversal). Neurobiological models suggest this is linked to hyperactivity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) and hypoactivity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).
This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study aims to verify if tDCS can improve fear reversal performance. The study involves 140 patients with anxiety disorders assigned to one of four arms:
Cathodal tDCS over the right DLPFC (inhibitory); Anodal tDCS over the vmPFC (excitatory); Sham tDCS (placebo); Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC (active control). During the 25-minute stimulation session, participants will perform a computerized fear reversal task. Physiological data (Skin Conductance Response) and subjective anxiety ratings will be recorded simultaneously to assess the intervention's impact on cognitive and emotional regulation.
- Conditions
- Anxiety Disorders
- Being tested
- Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC), Anodal tDCS (vmPFC), Sham tDCS, Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC)
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS, Fear Reversal, Anxiety, Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, Cognitive Flexibility
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC)Device
Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Cathode placed over F4 (10-20 system), Anode over contralateral deltoid.
Anodal tDCS (vmPFC)Device
Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Anode placed over Fpz (10-20 system), Cathode over Oz.
Sham tDCSDevice
Current ramps up for 30 seconds and then fades to zero to mimic skin sensation, with no sustained current for the rest of the 25 minutes.
Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC)Device
Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Anode placed over F3 (10-20 system), Cathode over contralateral deltoid.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active Comparator: Cathodal rDLPFC | Experimental | Participants receive inhibitory stimulation over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Receives: Device: Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC) |
| Active Comparator: Anodal vmPFC | Experimental | Participants receive excitatory stimulation over the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Receives: Device: Anodal tDCS (vmPFC) |
| Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS | Sham comparator | Participants receive a pseudo-stimulation that mimics the sensation of real tDCS but delivers no therapeutic current. Receives: Device: Sham tDCS |
| Active Comparator: Anodal lDLPFC | Active comparator | Participants receive excitatory stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (positive control). Receives: Device: Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean Accuracy Rate in the Reversal Phase of the Fear Reversal Task
The percentage of correct responses during the reversal phase of the computerized task, where participants must inhibit previous fear associations and learn new safety signals. Higher scores indicate better cognitive flexibility.
Measured: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Reaction Time in the Reversal Phase
The response time (in milliseconds) to the new CS+ (formerly CS-) and new CS- (formerly CS+) stimuli during the reversal phase.
Measured: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)
Skin Conductance Response (SCR) Amplitude
The amplitude of physiological skin conductance responses to Conditioned Stimuli (CS+ and CS-), serving as an objective measure of physiological arousal and fear response.
Measured: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)
Subjective Anxiety Score (VAS)
Self-reported anxiety levels measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Scores range from 0 (no anxiety) to 10 (extreme anxiety).
Measured: During the intervention (Day 1, assessed intermittently during the 25-minute task)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2025
- Primary completion1 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Anxiety DisordersStudies 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
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Jingchu Hu
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Jingchu Hu, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07405463
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KN2025407
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 12 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Intervention on Fear Reversal in Patients With Anxiety Disorders
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07405463
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KN2025407
- Conditions
- Anxiety Disorders
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS, Fear Reversal, Anxiety, Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, Cognitive Flexibility
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Jingchu HuUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 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.
This study evaluates the effects of single-session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on fear reversal learning in patients with anxiety disorders. Participants will be randomized into four groups to receive either active stimulation targeting specific brain regions (right DLPFC or vmPFC), an active control stimulation, or sham stimulation. The main goal is to determine if modulating these brain areas can improve the ability to update safety and threat associations.
Detailed description
Anxiety disorders are characterized by deficits in fear regulation and cognitive flexibility, specifically the inability to inhibit fear responses when a threat becomes safe (fear reversal). Neurobiological models suggest this is linked to hyperactivity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) and hypoactivity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).
This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study aims to verify if tDCS can improve fear reversal performance. The study involves 140 patients with anxiety disorders assigned to one of four arms:
Cathodal tDCS over the right DLPFC (inhibitory); Anodal tDCS over the vmPFC (excitatory); Sham tDCS (placebo); Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC (active control). During the 25-minute stimulation session, participants will perform a computerized fear reversal task. Physiological data (Skin Conductance Response) and subjective anxiety ratings will be recorded simultaneously to assess the intervention's impact on cognitive and emotional regulation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active Comparator: Cathodal rDLPFC | Experimental | Device: Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC)Participants receive inhibitory stimulation over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. |
| Active Comparator: Anodal vmPFC | Experimental | Device: Anodal tDCS (vmPFC)Participants receive excitatory stimulation over the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. |
| Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS | Sham comparator | Device: Sham tDCSParticipants receive a pseudo-stimulation that mimics the sensation of real tDCS but delivers no therapeutic current. |
| Active Comparator: Anodal lDLPFC | Active comparator | Device: Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC)Participants receive excitatory stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (positive control). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Age between 18 and 60 years old. Right-handed. Meeting the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Gambling Disorder (GD). South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score ≥ 5. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing. Willingness to provide written informed consent and participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- History of other severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression) or neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, brain tumor).
- History of substance abuse or dependence (excluding nicotine) in the past 6 months.
- Current use of psychotropic medications that may affect cortical excitability (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants).
- Presence of metallic implants in the head or neck area (e.g., cochlear implants, aneurysm clips) or cardiac pacemakers.
- Skin lesions or sensitivity at the stimulation sites on the scalp. Pregnancy or lactation. Participation in other neuromodulation studies within the last 3 months.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC)Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Cathode placed over F4 (10-20 system), Anode over contralateral deltoid. | Device | Active Comparator: Cathodal rDLPFC |
| Anodal tDCS (vmPFC)Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Anode placed over Fpz (10-20 system), Cathode over Oz. | Device | Active Comparator: Anodal vmPFC |
| Sham tDCSCurrent ramps up for 30 seconds and then fades to zero to mimic skin sensation, with no sustained current for the rest of the 25 minutes. | Device | Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS |
| Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC)Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Anode placed over F3 (10-20 system), Cathode over contralateral deltoid. | Device | Active Comparator: Anodal lDLPFC |
Primary outcome
Mean Accuracy Rate in the Reversal Phase of the Fear Reversal Task
Time frame: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)
The percentage of correct responses during the reversal phase of the computerized task, where participants must inhibit previous fear associations and learn new safety signals. Higher scores indicate better cognitive flexibility.
3 secondary outcomes
Reaction Time in the Reversal Phase
Time frame: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)
Skin Conductance Response (SCR) Amplitude
Time frame: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)
Subjective Anxiety Score (VAS)
Time frame: During the intervention (Day 1, assessed intermittently during the 25-minute task)
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 12 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC), Anodal tDCS (vmPFC) and Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC) in people with Anxiety Disorders, run by Jingchu Hu at 1 site in China.
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 1 inclusion and 5 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: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Feb 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 China. 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?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mean Accuracy Rate in the Reversal Phase of the Fear Reversal Task (time frame: During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes)). 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 12 Feb 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.