An interventional study of Dynamic neural retraining system in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sponsored by University of Alberta. Recruiting at 2 sites in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-09.
Sponsored by University of Alberta · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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We are studying the effect of a mind-body treatment for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) with or without Long COVID (LC). Our team recognizes that ME/CFS and Long COVID are serious, debilitating, biomedical conditions.
ME/CFS can affect many different parts of the body, such as the nervous system, immune system, and metabolism. It is hypothesized that central sensitization (i.e., when nerves get too excited) may influence these complex conditions and may make symptoms worse.
This study explores a mind-body program called the Dynamic Neural Retraining System™, or DNRS™.
Mind-body interventions (MBIs) focus on how the brain, mind, body, and behaviour interact to improve health and well-being. These techniques help people become more aware of themselves, take better care of their health, and boost mood, quality of life, and coping skills. MBIs use the brain's ability to change (neuroplasticity) by reinforcing certain thoughts, feelings, or behaviours that support changes in biology and function. MBIs may influence physical health by affecting how the brain and body communicate through chemicals such as hormones and neurotransmitters. Objective fMRI evidence shows that practising MBIs can change brain structure and function. This makes MBIs a potential good fit for people with chronic illnesses like ME/CFS and LC, which involve complex interactions between the brain, immune system, and hormones.
There is no rigorous peer-reviewed evidence that DNRS is effective. Our study will address this question using subjective and objective measurements in a multiple-methods wait-list randomized controlled trial.
The objectives of this study are to: 1) examine the effectiveness of the DNRS program for individuals diagnosed with ME/CFS with and without Long COVID, compared to a treatment-as-usual wait-list control group on a range of patient-reported outcomes including health-related quality of life, fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression and objective measures including daily steps, heart rate variability, and sleep; 2) quantify metabolic changes through untargeted serum metabolomics profiling, 3) determine if metabolomics screening can predict treatment responsiveness to DNRS; and 4) identify the microbial signatures of large bowel microbiota in Long COVID patients pre and post MBI.
A descriptive qualitative study will also be conducted in a sample of participants to learn more about their experiences during the trial.
264 studies on the registry are indexed under Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; 62 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 200 is above the median of 60 across 178 interventional studies indexed under Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic.
Browse Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic studies →University of Alberta is the lead sponsor of 824 studies on the registry; 171 are open to participants now.
Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 3 (60%) have results posted.
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals who: 1) are too ill to participate; 2) lack reliable internet; 3) cannot communicate in English; 4) Presently have or ever had inflammatory bowel disease; and/or 5) Have been prescribed or used an oral or systemic (infusion) antibiotic in the past one month-;; 6) are participating in a concurrent study; 7) are participating in a concurrent mind-body intervention during the study period including
iatrogenic conditions such as side effects or interactions of medication(s) or supplements
Ehlers Danlos Syndromes [Hypermobility type]
Stickler syndrome etc.
Note: Patients with celiac disease can present without gastrointestinal symptoms
such as /AIDS
including obstructive sleep apnea
infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and chronic hepatitis
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.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Other: Dynamic neural retraining system
The waitlist control group will complete the experimental intervention after 4 months. During the waiting period, they will continue to receive usual care and will be asked to not participate in any other new treatments.
Description: The DNRS program includes the following components: 1) cognitive-behavioural therapy; 2) mindfulness-based cognitive restructuring; 3) emotional restructuring therapy; 4) neural linguistic programming; 5) incremental training; and 6) behaviour modification therapy. DNRS offered in this study includes a 14-hour online course followed by a 12-week online "LIVING DNRS" group support program. The 14-hour online course includes a variety of exercises, instructional videos, and a workbook. Upon completion, participants are offered a 12-week LIVING DNRS Group Support program which provides individuals with support in how to best implement DNRS into their daily lives with the help of a trained facilitator as well as peer support.
Physical functioning
Physical functioning of health-related quality of life (HRQL) as measured by the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) (V1)
Time frame: Difference in changes from baseline to post intervention/post waiting (within 4 weeks of completing the DNRS program or waiting period)
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Jul 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2027, 29 months after the start.
Of 73 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 43. This study's planned 29 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 78 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 43.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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