An interventional study of Non-invasive transcranial stimulation and Sham Non-invasive transcranial stimulation in Postherpetic Neuralgia, sponsored by Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-20.
Sponsored by Huazhong University of Science and Technology · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) management. First-line treatments for PHN include antiviral agents (e.g., acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir, and brivudine), centrally acting antiepileptic drugs (pregabalin and gabapentin), antidepressants (duloxetine and venlafaxine), and peripherally acting sodium-channel blockers (lidocaine patches).
In recent years, substantial progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of PHN, including early and active antiviral therapy (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir, brivudine, etc.), analgesic therapy (calcium-channel modulators such as pregabalin and gabapentin; tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline; and opioid analgesics), interventional procedures (e.g., radiofrequency modulation and spinal cord stimulation), and vaccination. Nevertheless, clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory, with the incidence of refractory PHN still exceeding 50%. Adverse effects associated with certain first- and second-line medications (such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants), as well as the potential risk of opioid dependence, markedly reduce treatment adherence. This situation has compelled clinicians to continually seek new and effective therapeutic approaches for PHN.
Non-invasive transcranial stimulation, as an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation technique, enables targeted modulation of deep brain structures. Animal studies have demonstrated that it can noninvasively regulate neuronal firing in deep regions and induce long-term plasticity, while offering relatively high spatial selectivity and tissue penetration. These features suggest broad clinical potential in chronic pain and affective disorders.
195 studies on the registry are indexed under Neuralgia, Postherpetic; 31 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 94 is close to the median of 100 across 160 interventional studies indexed under Neuralgia, Postherpetic.
Browse Neuralgia, Postherpetic studies →Huazhong University of Science and Technology is the lead sponsor of 241 studies on the registry; 60 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants receive brain stimulation in addition to usual pharmacological care for postherpetic neuralgia. Brain stimulation is delivered once daily for 30 minutes for 10 consecutive days.
Device: Non-invasive transcranial stimulation
Participants receive sham stimulation in addition to usual pharmacological care. Electrodes are applied once daily for 30 minutes for 10 consecutive days; after an initial brief stimulation to mimic sensation, the output is turned off.
Device: Sham Non-invasive transcranial stimulation
Non-invasive transcranial stimulation is delivered once daily for 30 minutes for 10 consecutive days. Stimulation is administered using a multi-channel battery-powered device with five circular Ag/AgCl electrodes; current output is monitored in real time for safety.
Sham procedure with identical electrode placement and session duration (30 minutes once daily for 10 consecutive days). After an initial brief stimulation to mimic sensation, the current output is turned off.
Change in Pain Intensity (NRS)
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, 0-10); change from baseline in pain intensity.
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (end of treatment), 1 month, and 3 months
Neuropathic pain symptoms
Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI); change from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10, 1 month, 3 months
Pain interference
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) interference subscale; change from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10, 1 month, 3 months
Health-related quality of life
EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D); change from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10, 1 month, 3 months
Sleep quality
Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS); change from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10, 1 month, 3 months
Emotional status
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7); change from baseline.Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-10 (EPDS-10) or prespecified depression scale; change from baseline.Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS); change from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10, 1 month, 3 months
Global impression
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and Clinician Global Impression of Change (CGIC) at follow-up visits.
Time frame: Day 10, 1 month, 3 months
Plan to share: Undecided
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Huazhong University of Science and Technology