Actively Recruiting
Effects of taVNS Combined With tACS on Adolescents With Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Led by Anhui Medical University · Updated on 2026-03-23
90
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
102 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
NSSI behavior is highly prevalent among adolescents, and its mechanisms are closely associated with attentional bias toward self-injury-related information and impulsivity, both of which may be related to reduced dlPFC activation levels. Introducing taVNS as a priming stimulus to pre-regulate brain state and optimize subsequent tACS treatment response provides a novel approach to addressing inconsistent intervention effects. Simultaneously, this facilitates a shift in the brain from passive stimulus reception to active state regulation, offering important theoretical foundations for developing more precise and efficient cross-modal neuromodulation therapies.This study aims to systematically validate the efficacy of a combined protocol using taVNS as a priming modality followed by tACS over the left dlPFC through a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The investigators hypothesize that: ① Compared to tACS intervention alone, this combined approach will not only demonstrate non-inferiority in overall therapeutic efficacy but, more importantly, significantly reduce inter-individual variability in treatment response to tACS. This would mitigate the issue of high clinical response heterogeneity and enhance the stability and predictability of treatment outcomes. ② Early behavioral biomarkers of intervention response are anticipated: Immediate improvements in attentional bias following a single combined intervention session will significantly predict reductions in the frequency and intensity of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) after a full course (14 sessions) of treatment. This suggests that early positive changes in cognitive function could serve as valid indicators predicting long-term clinical efficacy, offering a critical time window for implementing individualized treatment adjustments. ③ The study will elucidate the effects of the taVNS-primed combined tACS treatment on neuroimaging mechanisms in adolescents with NSSI.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Effects of taVNS Combined With tACS on Adolescents With Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Meet the diagnostic criteria for non-suicidal self-injury with at least 5 episodes and one in the past month
- Aged 12 to 18 years
- Right-handed
- Have enough formal education to understand study procedures
- Normal or corrected vision in both eyes
- Voluntarily agree to participate with legal guardian consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment score below 26
- History of suicide attempts
- History of epilepsy, brain surgery, brain tumors, or significant head injury
- History of substance abuse or serious physical illness
- Received physical or psychological treatment in the last three months
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences
Hefei, Anhui, China
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
H
Hongyan Zhu
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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