An interventional study of Virtual reality exposure therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation in PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, sponsored by Malek Bajbouj. Recruiting at 1 site in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-11.
Sponsored by Malek Bajbouj · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
A new method is being tested to assist individuals in Ukraine with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including veterans and civilians affected by war. The study is a collaboration among Ukrainian healthcare institutions and the Charité Berlin.
What is PTSD?
PTSD can occur after a distressing or traumatic experience, such as exposure to war. It can result in persistent negative memories, nightmares, heightened nervousness, or avoidance of reminders associated with the event.
Purpose of the Study
Two innovative treatments for PTSD are being tested:
The study aims to determine whether combining these two treatments is more effective than using virtual reality therapy alone.
Participant Involvement
Participants will:
Potential Benefits for Participants
This study also has the potential to advance PTSD treatment methods for others in the future.
This research initiative, supported by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, involves collaboration among six Ukrainian institutions to investigate the effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of PTSD in war veterans and civilians.
Background and Rationale
Reports since 2015 indicate that approximately 27.7% of individuals involved in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Ukraine have been diagnosed with PTSD, highlighting a critical need for innovative treatments.
Exposure therapy is a well-established treatment for PTSD, helping individuals process traumatic memories through techniques such as gradual exposure and arousal control. However, traditional approaches often result in high dropout rates due to the emotional intensity required. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) offers a promising alternative by providing immersive, interactive, and controlled environments that facilitate emotional processing and reduce avoidance behaviors. A culturally adapted Ukrainian version of the VRET protocol, developed in 2024 at the Bogomolets National Medical University, has shown potential for addressing trauma-specific needs in Ukrainian PTSD patients.
tDCS is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that applies low electrical currents to the scalp to influence brain activity. It has shown promise in alleviating PTSD-related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Combining tDCS with VRET may enhance treatment outcomes by leveraging neuroplasticity to improve emotional regulation and cognitive processing.
This study aims to validate a culturally adapted VRET protocol for PTSD treatment in Ukraine and evaluate whether combining it with tDCS further enhances therapeutic outcomes.
Treatment Protocols
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)
The VRET protocol involves ten 60-minute sessions structured in two phases:
Session Highlights:
tDCS-Augmented VRET (tDCS-VRET) The tDCS-VRET protocol incorporates tDCS during VRET sessions to enhance neuromodulation. Sessions are identical to the VRET protocol, with the addition of tDCS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
Technical Specifications
Objectives
This protocol offers an innovative and integrative approach to PTSD treatment by combining state-of-the-art virtual reality technology with neuromodulation to address the specific needs of Ukrainian trauma survivors.
200 studies on the registry are indexed under Combat Disorders; 90 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 72 across 167 interventional studies indexed under Combat Disorders.
Browse Combat Disorders studies →This is the only study on the registry with Malek Bajbouj as lead sponsor.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Age · The participant is 18 to 75 years of age, inclusive, at the time the form (ICF) is signed.
Type of Participant and Disease Characteristics:
The participant's index trauma event must have occurred when the participant was ≥13 years of age.
Exclusion Criteria:
Medical Conditions
The participant is at an increased risk of suicide, defined as:
Prior/Concomitant Therapy
Prior/Concurrent Clinical Study Experience
1. The participant is currently enrolled in OR has previously participated in another study in which an investigational medication (e.g., drug, vaccine, invasive device) was administered within 30 days before the ICF for this study is signed.
Other Exclusions
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECG (electrocardiogram)
A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive Virtual reality exposure therapy in addition to treatment as usual (pharmacotherapy)
Device: Virtual reality exposure therapy
Participants will receive Virtual reality exposure therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation in addition to treatment as usual (pharmacotherapy)
Device: Virtual reality exposure therapy · Device: transcranial direct current stimulation
Treatment as usual. Participants will receive pharmacotherapy only
Behavioral: Imaginal exposure therapy
Exposure therapy applied through virtual reality goggles, controlled by a clinician
transcranial direct current stimulation applied to the vmpfc, 2mA
Imaginal exposure therapy
PTSD Symptoms
CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5) * Minimum Value: 0 * Maximum Value: 80 * Higher Scores: Indicate worse outcomes, reflecting more severe PTSD symptoms.
Time frame: Before treatment until after treatment as well as 3-month and 6-month follow ups
PTSD Symptoms as measured by PCL-5
PCL-5 (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5) * Minimum Value: 0 * Maximum Value: 80 * Higher Scores: Indicate worse outcomes, as they reflect more severe PTSD symptoms.
Time frame: Before treatment until after treatment as well as 3-month and 6-month follow ups
Symptoms of depression
MADRS (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) * Minimum Value: 0 * Maximum Value: 60 * Higher Scores: Indicate worse outcomes, reflecting more severe depression symptoms.
Time frame: Before and after end of treatment as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow ups
Quality of life
SF-36 (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) * Minimum Value: 0 * Maximum Value: 100 * Higher Scores: Indicate better outcomes, reflecting better health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Before and after end of treatment as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow ups
Framework of acceptability Questionnaire
Framework of acceptability Questionnaire * Minimum Value: 0 * Maximum Value: 40 * Higher Scores: Indicate better outcomes, reflecting higher levels of acceptability of the Intervention .
Time frame: Before and after end of treatment as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow ups
Suicidal Ideation
C-SSRS (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale) * Minimum Value: 0 (No suicidality) * Maximum Value: 25 * Higher Scores: Indicate worse outcomes, reflecting increased severity of suicidal ideation or behavior.
Time frame: Before and after end of treatment as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow ups
Anxiety
GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) * Minimum Value: 0 * Maximum Value: 21 * Higher Scores: Indicate worse outcomes, reflecting higher levels of anxiety.
Time frame: Before and after end of treatment as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow ups
Plan to share: Yes — to be decided
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