Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-concussion Headaches

Sponsor
State University of New York - Upstate Medical University (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT06112093
Collaborator
(none)
30
1
2
48
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Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This study to examine the long-term effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, on chronic headaches following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). rTMS has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic headaches without side effects commonly seen in medications, such as sleepiness and addiction. This study uses rTMS to manage chronic headaches to improve post-concussion symptoms and reduce the economic burden due to delayed recovery. This project aims to better identify biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis and maximize recovery from mTBI.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Device: Sham Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
N/A

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
30 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
The Active rTMS group will receive 12 sessions (3 sessions/week) of rTMS and the Sham rTMS group will receive rTMS from a sham coil at the same location and duration as the Active rTMS group.The Active rTMS group will receive 12 sessions (3 sessions/week) of rTMS and the Sham rTMS group will receive rTMS from a sham coil at the same location and duration as the Active rTMS group.
Masking:
Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description:
The participants will be blind and randomly assigned to either the Active rTMS or the Sham rTMS group.
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Manage Headaches and Improve Rehabilitation Outcomes in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Study
Anticipated Study Start Date :
Oct 23, 2023
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Oct 23, 2026
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Oct 23, 2027

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

12 sessions (3 sessions/week) of active rTMS at the left motor cortex to upregulate brain excitability and reduce headaches and post-concussion symptoms.

Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
rTMS will be used to regulate the motor cortex to reduce headaches and post-concussion symptoms.
Other Names:
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • Sham Comparator: Sham rTMS

    12 sessions (3 sessions/week) of sham rTMS will be administered at the same location and duration as the active rTMS but will not modulate brain function. After the study is completed, participants will be offered an opportunity to receive active rTMS.

    Device: Sham Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
    Sham rTMS will be delivered by a sham coil as a comparator to the (active) rTMS. Sham rTMS will not change the brain function of the control group.

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Daily headache diary - intensity [daily documentation throughout the treatment course (4 weeks)]

      Headaches will be documented by a daily headache diary during rTMS intervention about the intensity (by numerical rating scale).

    2. Daily headache diary - frequency [daily documentation throughout the treatment course (4 weeks)]

      Headaches will be documented by a daily headache diary during rTMS intervention about the frequency (by episode).

    3. Daily headache diary - duration [daily documentation throughout the treatment course (4 weeks)]

      Headaches will be documented by a daily headache diary during rTMS intervention about the duration (by hour).

    4. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS), 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up]

      The PROMIS questionnaires with subsections of 1) pain interference, 2) pain behavior, 3) sleep disturbance, 4) sleep-related impairment will be used as patient-reported outcomes of pain and sleep. For all subsections, on a scale of 1 to 5, higher numbers indicate worse outcomes.

    5. Headache impact test 6 (HIT-6) [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS), 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up]

      The HIT-6 will be used to assess the impact of headaches on one's ability to function in occupational and social lives. On a scale of 36 to 78, higher numbers indicate worse outcomes.

    6. Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS), 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up]

      The change in global post-concussion symptoms will be measured by the PCSS. On a scale of 1 to 5, higher numbers indicate worse outcomes.

    7. Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS), 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up]

      The change in global post-concussion symptoms will be measured by the RPQ. On a scale of 0 to 4, higher numbers indicate worse outcomes.

    8. Wrist actigraphy - sleep quality [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS)]

      Kinematic assessments by the wrist actigraphy will be worn to measure sleep quality.

    9. Wrist actigraphy - physical activity level [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS)]

      Kinematic assessments by the wrist actigraphy will be worn to measure physical activity level.

    10. Neurophysiological measures by TMS [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS)]

      Neurophysiology will be measured by TMS to indicate changes in brain function.

    11. Gene expression [baseline, immediately post-treatment (completion of rTMS)]

      Peripheral blood will be collected to measure mRNA to impute gene expression.

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. Length of rehabilitation (LOR) [3-month follow-up]

      LOR will be recorded by reviewing the medical chart.

    2. Return to work (RTW) [3-month follow-up]

      RTW will be will be calculated as the percent of time working relative to the pre-mTBI workload.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    18 Years to 55 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    Yes
    Inclusion Criteria:
    • 18 - 55 years old who were actively working prior to mTBI

    • first-ever mTBI with loss of consciousness for less than 30 min, initial Glasgow Coma Scale between 13 and 15, or post-traumatic amnesia for ≤ 24 hours

    • diagnosis of persistent post-traumatic headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria by a board-certified physician with subspecialty certification in Brain Injury Medicine

    • headache develops within 7 days after head trauma

    • headache persists for >=3 months after head trauma despite receiving standard care

    • average persistent headache intensity is >= 3/10 of the numerical rating scale (NRS) on >=3days/week

    • no evidence of radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy on electromyography or clinical evaluation

    • no evidence of other possible causes of headaches

    Exclusion Criteria:
    • history of chronic headache diagnoses such as migraine, tension, or cluster headaches prior to the incidence of mTBI

    • history of other neurologic conditions with medications affecting the central nervous system

    • contraindications of receiving TMS (e.g., a history of epileptic seizure and having implants like a cardiac pacemaker or intracerebral vascular clip

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse New York United States 13210

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • State University of New York - Upstate Medical University

    Investigators

    • Principal Investigator: Yi-Ling Kuo, PT, PhD, State University of New York - Upstate Medical University

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    Responsible Party:
    Yi-Ling Kuo, PT, PhD, Assistant Professor, State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT06112093
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • 1825424
    First Posted:
    Nov 1, 2023
    Last Update Posted:
    Nov 1, 2023
    Last Verified:
    Oct 1, 2023
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    Yes
    Plan to Share IPD:
    Yes
    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
    Keywords provided by Yi-Ling Kuo, PT, PhD, Assistant Professor, State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Nov 1, 2023