Recruiting

Intraparietal Sulcus Stimulation

Sponsor:

University of Pennsylvania

Code:

NCT06234969

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation to the Intraparietal Sulcus

Sham Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study will be the first of its kind to explore the impact of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) on arousal symptoms among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The investigators will demonstrate that IPS cTBS results in significant reduction in arousal (measured by startle response) compared to sham cTBS, that IPS cTBS interacts with extinction training to further improve arousal, and that there is a dose/response effect of cTBS on arousal. The investigators will also demonstrate that IPS cTBS significantly improves retention of extinction learning, the experimental analogue of exposure therapy.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Study ID

NCT06234969

Start date

Apr 29, 2024

Status verified date

Oct, 2025

Completion date

Oct 31, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul 31, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult aged 18-60
  • Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for PTSD according to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
  • No metal implants

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy
  • Seizure disorder or epilepsy
  • Increased risk of seizure
  • Non-English speaking
  • Any medical condition that increases risk for fMRI or cTBS
  • Medical implant
  • Hearing loss sufficient to interfere with startle
  • Claustrophobia
  • Recent medication or therapy changes (in the past 8 weeks)
  • Current severe substance use disorder

Study Design

Enrollment

120 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Continuous theta burst stimulation to the intraparietal sulcus

Continuous theta burst stimulation will be delivered to the individually targeted intraparietal sulcus site at 100% RMT.

placebo comparator: Sham continuous theta burst stimulation

We will use the coil's electric stimulation functionality that allows for the delivery of a brief electric pulse to the scalp simultaneous to the pulse to mimic actual stimulation.

Interventions

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation to the Intraparietal Sulcus

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation delivered to the Intraparietal Sulcus

Sham Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation

Sham Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation

Primary outcome measure

  • Electromyography startle response [ Time Frame: Days 4, 5, 34 and 35 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Lily A Brown, PhD

2157463346lilybr@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Locations

Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Lily A Brown, PhD

215-746-3346lilybr@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Sonalee Joshi, PhD

21-746-3342sonalee.joshi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Last update posted

Oct 30, 2025

Last verified

Oct, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Pennsylvania on 2025-10-30.