tDCS With Cognitive Training to Reduce Impulsivity and Weight in Veterans With Obesity
Obesity
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Obesity focused on measuring transcranial direct current stimulation, neuromodulation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Veteran enrolled in the MOVE! Weight Management Program at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- Obese (BMI>30)
- Adults, ages 18 years or older (up to age 80)
- Able to understand English, self-consent and follow study-related procedures
- Willing to use a reliable form of birth control if they are of females of child-bearing potential
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of any of the following: seizures, severe or moderate head injury, head surgery, significant neurological disorder (significance based on Principal Investigator's judgment)
- Frequent severe headaches
- History of scalp conditions such as eczema or seborrheic dermatitis
- Metal in head (other than in mouth) including shrapnel/surgical clips/welding fragments
- Implanted medical devices (including pumps and cardiac pacemakers)
- Pregnancy
- Active substance abuse
- Moderately severe to severe depression (as identified on PHQ-9 scale during baseline screening)
- Other psychological or medical disorders requiring inpatient treatment (as identified during chart review)
- Presence of a known metabolic or hormonal disorder (such as Cushing's, untreated thyroid dysfunction, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus defined as a hemoglobin A1c > 8.0), or significant edema/volume overload - all of which would affect weight
- History of hypothyroidism is acceptable if subject is on treatment with normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and FT4 on most recent check within the last 3 months and has been on stable dosage of l-thyroxine for at least 3 months, taking it as prescribed.
Sites / Locations
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MNRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Active tDCS with Cognitive Training
Sham tDCS with Cognitive Training
Participants will receive active tDCS stimulation with their cognitive training during a one-hour session each day which includes 20 minutes of stimulation at the beginning of a 46-minute task training session. Ten sessions will be completed over three weeks.
Participants will receive 10 sessions of cognitive training concurrent with sham tDCS. For sham tDCS, electrodes are placed at the same locations as for active tDCS, but current is ramped up for the initial 30 seconds, then immediately ramped back down. This method mimics the initial physical sensation of stimulation, but there is no active current for the remainder of the session.