Actively Recruiting
Modulating Escape Using Focused Ultrasound
Led by Medical University of South Carolina · Updated on 2025-10-14
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
136 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This is a study to find out if a cutting-edge technology called transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can be used to treat how people with anxiety or related concerns cope with emotional situations. tFUS is a brain stimulation technology that causes temporary changes in the activity of deep brain areas without a need for any surgery or other permanent or invasive procedures. This study is recruiting participants who recently started treatment for anxiety or a related concern to come in for 3 visits at the Medical University of South Carolina. At the first visit, participants will do interviews and surveys asking about anxiety and related concerns, and they do tasks where they respond to emotional pictures while brain activity is measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At the next two visits, participants again do a task where they see and react to emotional images, and this time the task is done once before and again once after receiving tFUS that either actively causes temporary changes (lasting for about an hour) in a targeted brain area or is not active (no changes elicited). At each tFUS visit, responses are measured with sensors worn on the hand, arms, face, and head (these visits do not involve MRI). Each visit in this study is expected to last between 2 - 3 hours. This study is not a treatment study, but it could help improve treatment in the future. Participants in this study are paid for their time.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Modulating Escape Using Focused Ultrasound
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Diagnosis of an anxiety disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia), posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or current adjustment disorder with anxiety
- Currently seeking mental health treatment
- Able to read and provide informed consent
- English is a first or primary fluent language
You will not qualify if you...
- Current alcohol or substance use disorder more than mild in severity
- Lifetime diagnosis of psychotic disorder or bipolar mania
- Neurological conditions contraindicating brain stimulation or neurophysiological recording, including seizure disorder
- History of traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness
- Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Frontotemporal Dementia
- Medical conditions making it uncomfortable to sit or lie still for long periods
- Standard contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging
- Presence of metal in the body
- Currently pregnant
- Claustrophobia
- Significant sensitivity to noise
- Medical conditions or treatments that lower seizure threshold
- History of severe brain injury
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Taking anticholinergic, neuroleptic, or sedative/hypnotic medications
- Taking chronic opiate medications or substances
- Currently taking naltrexone
- Note: Stable use of SSRIs, cholinesterase inhibitors, or NMDA receptor antagonists for at least four weeks prior to enrollment is allowed
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Christopher T Sege, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here