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Bipolar Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)

Primary Purpose

Bipolar Disorder

Status
Recruiting
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
tACS brain stimulation treatment
Sham stimulation treatment
Sponsored by
University of Michigan
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Bipolar Disorder focused on measuring transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), electroencephalogram (EEG)

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 55 Years (Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Confirmed diagnosis of BD based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria being met from previous enrollment in the Prechter Bipolar Longitudinal Study
  • This study will select BD patients that scored 1.5 standard deviations (SDs) above published norms on the total score of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale to ensure that the recruited patients exhibit the network dysfunction targeted by the tACS paradigm and therefore have the potential to benefit from this neuromodulation technique.
  • Patients must be on a stable dose of medication for two weeks prior to Sessions 2 and 3.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Significant neurological abnormalities, such as seizure disorder, mass lesions, etc.
  • Known Mendelian disorder
  • Active problematic substance use in the past 30 days (as determined by the Substance Use Disorder module of SCID)
  • Evidence of suicidal intentions or behaviors in the past month, as judged by affirmative responses to question number 4 or number 5 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) or report of suicidal behaviors in the last 6 months
  • Pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or currently lactating.

Sites / Locations

  • University of MichiganRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Sham Comparator

Experimental

Arm Label

Sham stimulation treatment

tACS brain stimulation treatment

Arm Description

Sham stimulation during a computerized task and electroencephalogram (EEG) recording.

tACS brain stimulation during a computerized task and EEG recording. Participants will receive tACS using individualized peak Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) frequency pairs determined in Session 1.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Severity of side effects reported at end of stimulation session as reported by the participant on the Stimulation Side Effects Questionnaire.
The score is calculated by summing the severity score of items (0-4) that are rated by the participant as related to stimulation (ratings of 3=probable or 4=definite) on the Stimulation Side Effects Questionnaire. There are a total of 14 symptoms as well as an other category with scores ranging from 0-56 and the possibility of more points if other symptoms are recorded.
Percentage of participants that withdrawal during or after the stimulation session
The study team will compare the percentage of participants requesting to discontinue the session and the severity of side effects reported following the tACS vs. sham procedure.
Accuracy signal detection theory metric sensitivity (d') derived from the behavioral responses to Go and NoGo trials on the cognitive control task.
D' (D prime) provides a measure of perceptual sensitivity to differing stimuli.
Accuracy signal detection theory metric response bias derived from the behavioral responses to Go and NoGo trials on the cognitive control task.
Beta (β) provides a measure of response bias, with negative β values indicating a stronger tendency to respond.
Reaction time (in milliseconds) of Go trials on the cognitive control task
The separate sessions will be measured separately and compared to each other.
Theta-gamma PAC (Kullback-Leibler Modulation Index) during the rest EEG blocks interleaved between stimulation blocks.
Theta-Gamma PAC represents the relationship between the phase of theta oscillations and the amplitude of gamma oscillations as measured by the EEG.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
July 26, 2022
Last Updated
June 28, 2023
Sponsor
University of Michigan
Collaborators
Milken Institute, Baszucki Brain Research Fund
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT05480124
Brief Title
Bipolar Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Official Title
Enhancing Neural Synchrony and Affective Cognitive Control in Bipolar Disorder Using Personalized Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
June 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Recruiting
Study Start Date
April 20, 2023 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
December 2023 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
December 2023 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
University of Michigan
Collaborators
Milken Institute, Baszucki Brain Research Fund

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
Yes
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The purpose of this clinical trial is to measure the safety and effectiveness of a non-invasive brain stimulation device called Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in participants with bipolar disorder (BD). Participants will be asked to come in for 3 sessions. If participants qualify at the screening visit (session 1) then enrolled participants will complete sessions 2 and 3 as well as have a 30-day follow-up phone call.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Bipolar Disorder
Keywords
transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), electroencephalogram (EEG)

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Crossover Assignment
Masking
ParticipantOutcomes Assessor
Masking Description
Participants, study coordinator, and clinical assessor will be blind as to which session the participants receive active or sham treatment.
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
30 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Sham stimulation treatment
Arm Type
Sham Comparator
Arm Description
Sham stimulation during a computerized task and electroencephalogram (EEG) recording.
Arm Title
tACS brain stimulation treatment
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
tACS brain stimulation during a computerized task and EEG recording. Participants will receive tACS using individualized peak Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) frequency pairs determined in Session 1.
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
tACS brain stimulation treatment
Intervention Description
Participants will wear an EEG cap on the head attached with EEG-recording and tACS electrodes. tACS will be delivered by passing a small electrical current via the tACS electrodes to the scalp to stimulate brain activity during a computerized behavioral task. The effect of active stimulation on EEG will be measured via EEG-recording electrodes during short rests (between stimulation blocks). The stimulation session will last for approximately 60 minutes. After treatment, participants will be asked about the experience and if there are any side effects.
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Sham stimulation treatment
Intervention Description
Participants will wear an EEG cap on the head attached with EEG-recording and tACS electrodes. Sham tACS will be delivered by passing a transient (approximately 12 seconds ) small electrical current via the tACS electrodes during a computerized behavioral task. The effect of sham stimulation on EEG will be measured via EEG-recording electrodes during short rests (between stimulation blocks). The sham stimulation session will last for approximately 60 minutes. After treatment, participants will be asked about the experience and if there are any side effects.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Severity of side effects reported at end of stimulation session as reported by the participant on the Stimulation Side Effects Questionnaire.
Description
The score is calculated by summing the severity score of items (0-4) that are rated by the participant as related to stimulation (ratings of 3=probable or 4=definite) on the Stimulation Side Effects Questionnaire. There are a total of 14 symptoms as well as an other category with scores ranging from 0-56 and the possibility of more points if other symptoms are recorded.
Time Frame
Change in outcome between Session 2 (approximately 60 minutes) and session 3 (approximately 60 minutes)
Title
Percentage of participants that withdrawal during or after the stimulation session
Description
The study team will compare the percentage of participants requesting to discontinue the session and the severity of side effects reported following the tACS vs. sham procedure.
Time Frame
Change in outcome between Session 2 (approximately 60 minutes) and session 3 (approximately 60 minutes)
Title
Accuracy signal detection theory metric sensitivity (d') derived from the behavioral responses to Go and NoGo trials on the cognitive control task.
Description
D' (D prime) provides a measure of perceptual sensitivity to differing stimuli.
Time Frame
Change in outcome between Session 2 (approximately 60 minutes) and session 3 (approximately 60 minutes)
Title
Accuracy signal detection theory metric response bias derived from the behavioral responses to Go and NoGo trials on the cognitive control task.
Description
Beta (β) provides a measure of response bias, with negative β values indicating a stronger tendency to respond.
Time Frame
Change in outcome between Session 2 (approximately 60 minutes) and 3 (approximately 60 minutes)
Title
Reaction time (in milliseconds) of Go trials on the cognitive control task
Description
The separate sessions will be measured separately and compared to each other.
Time Frame
Change in outcome between Session 2 (approximately 60 minutes) and 3 (approximately 60 minutes)
Title
Theta-gamma PAC (Kullback-Leibler Modulation Index) during the rest EEG blocks interleaved between stimulation blocks.
Description
Theta-Gamma PAC represents the relationship between the phase of theta oscillations and the amplitude of gamma oscillations as measured by the EEG.
Time Frame
Change in outcome between Session 2 (approximately 60 minutes) and 3 (approximately 60 minutes)
Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures:
Title
Emotional Flanker Task - Accuracy
Description
After completing the Emotion Go-NoGo task, participants will complete another cognitive control task (i.e., Emotional Flanker Task) with gray-scaled unpleasant, pleasant, and neural images from the International Affective Picture System. Participants are tasked with indicating which valance is presented in certain images while ignoring other images. Accuracy is defined as the percentage of trials that the participant correctly reports the valance of the target image. The total number of correct trials will be divided by the total number of trials to obtain an accuracy score. Average accuracy scores per condition and total will be calculated.
Time Frame
Approximately 30-60 minutes after the Go-NoGo task at all three time points (baseline, session 1, session 2)
Title
Emotional Flanker Task - Reaction time
Description
Reaction time will also be collected during the Emotional Flanker Task. Reaction time is defined as the length of time it takes the participant to respond after the onset of the stimuli. Average reaction times per condition and total will be calculated.
Time Frame
Approximately 30-60 minutes after the Go-NoGo task at all three time points (baseline, session 1, session 2).
Title
Emotional Flanker Task - EEG
Description
EEG will also be collected during the Emotional Flanker Task. Phase-amplitude coupling will be calculated and defined as the coupling between the amplitude of high frequency oscillations (e.g., gamma) and low frequency phase (e.g., theta). Average coupling scores per condition and total will be calculated.
Time Frame
Approximately 30-60 minutes after the Go-NoGo task at all three time points (baseline, session 1, session 2).

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
55 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Confirmed diagnosis of BD based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria being met from previous enrollment in the Prechter Bipolar Longitudinal Study This study will select BD patients that scored above published norms (upper 50th percentile) on the NEO-PI impulsivity facet to ensure that the recruited patients exhibit the network dysfunction targeted by the tACS paradigm and therefore have the potential to benefit from this neuromodulation technique. Patients must be on a stable dose of medication for two weeks prior to Sessions 2 and 3. Exclusion Criteria: Significant neurological abnormalities, such as seizure disorder, mass lesions, etc. Known Mendelian disorder Active problematic substance use in the past 30 days (as determined by the Substance Use Disorder module of SCID) Evidence of suicidal intentions or behaviors in the past month, as judged by affirmative responses to question number 4 or number 5 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) or report of suicidal behaviors in the last 6 months Pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or currently lactating.
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Laura Locarno
Phone
734-232-4585
Email
tacs_study@med.umich.edu
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Stephan F Taylor, MD
Organizational Affiliation
University of Michigan
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
University of Michigan
City
Ann Arbor
State/Province
Michigan
ZIP/Postal Code
48109
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Laura Stchur, MSW
Phone
734-936-1323
Email
lmarine@med.umich.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ivy Tso, PhD

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No

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Bipolar Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)

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