rTMS Active for Parkinson's (NCT06237868)
Magnetic stimulation reduces compulsive behaviors
- Trial ID
- NCT06237868
- Official Title
- The Effects of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease Patients on Dopamine Replacement Therapy.
- Goal
- Magnetic stimulation reduces compulsive behaviors
- Phase
- NA
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sponsor
- West Virginia University
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Enrollment
- 20 participants
- Conditions
- Impulse Control Disorder, Parkinson Disease
- Interventions
- rTMS Active, rTMS Sham
Summary For Families
The goal is to reduce impulse control problems like gambling, compulsive shopping, hypersexuality, punding, or dopamine dysregulation syndrome that can arise while on dopamine replacement therapy. The approach uses high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, sending repeated magnetic pulses to boost activity in frontal brain regions involved in self-control, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with active stimulation compared to a sham procedure, and it does not change your levodopa or other dopamine meds. Adults 18 and older with clinician-confirmed Parkinson's who are on dopamine-replacement therapy and have clinician-diagnosed impulse control behaviors can enroll, provided they have mild or no depression (BDI ≤14), reasonable cognition (MoCA ≥20), and no seizure history, major psychiatric illness, significant brain lesions or recent TMS, pregnancy, intracranial metal, or medications that raise seizure risk.
Locations
- West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this trial testing?
- This trial is studying rTMS Active. The goal is to reduce impulse control problems like gambling, compulsive shopping, hypersexuality, punding, or dopamine dysregulation syndrome that can arise while on dopamine replacement therapy. The approach uses high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, sending repeated magnetic pulses to boost activity in frontal brain regions involved in self-control, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with active stimulation compared to a sham procedure, and it does not change your levodopa or other dopamine meds. Adults 18 and older with clinician-confirmed Parkinson's who are on dopamine-replacement therapy and have clinician-diagnosed impulse control behaviors can enroll, provided they have mild or no depression (BDI ≤14), reasonable cognition (MoCA ≥20), and no seizure history, major psychiatric illness, significant brain lesions or recent TMS, pregnancy, intracranial metal, or medications that raise seizure risk.
- Who can participate?
- Participants must be at least 18 Years.
- Where is this trial located?
- This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- You are never charged a fee to join a legitimate clinical trial, and the study treatment and study-specific tests are provided by the trial sponsor at no charge. In the US, routine care you would receive anyway can still be billed to you or your insurance; coverage rules differ by country, and trials in the UK and Canada usually run through public health systems. Travel, parking, and time are real costs, and some trials reimburse them while others do not. Before enrolling, ask the study coordinator to explain in writing what is and is not covered.
- How long does the trial last?
- This trial is estimated to last approximately 3 years.
- Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?
- Yes. You can withdraw from any clinical trial at any time, for any reason, without affecting your standard medical care. Trials are voluntary by law. The team may ask if you are willing to do a brief exit visit so they can collect safety information, but you are not obligated.
- Can my spouse or care partner come with me to visits?
- In most cases yes, and it is often encouraged. Care partners can help with notes, questions, and getting home safely after a long visit. Some study assessments do need to happen one on one, but care partners are usually welcome for the rest of the appointment.
- Will I get a placebo in this trial?
- This trial has 2 groups, and 1 is a sham (a pretend version of the procedure) group. Because assignment is random, you have about a 1 in 2 chance (roughly 50%) of being in the sham group, assuming the groups are filled equally. Ask the coordinator to confirm the exact assignment ratio.
- How many visits does this trial involve?
- Two in-person sessions (active and sham), no more than 1-2 weeks apart; each session lasts approximately 1-1.5 hours.
- What procedures are involved in this trial?
- Based on the protocol, this trial involves: Questionnaires & surveys (non-invasive). Confirm the full schedule with the study coordinator.