ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07900841Updated Nov 10, 2026

FUS Neuromodulation for PTSD

An interventional study of Focused Ultrasound in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, sponsored by West Virginia University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.

Sponsored by West Virginia University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Updated Oct 28, 2026Newly registeredGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
15
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
20 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to see if a focused ultrasound neuromodulation can be safely and effectively used to treat symptoms of PTSD

Read the detailed description

This open-label early feasibility study investigates low intensity focused ultrasound (FUS), in participants with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The primary objective is to test the safety and feasibility of FUS in this population.

02

Conditions studied

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Neuromodulation
  • Focused Ultrasound
  • NaviFus System Model 101
03

In context

Combat Disorders

200 studies on the registry are indexed under Combat Disorders; 90 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 15 is below the median of 72 across 167 interventional studies indexed under Combat Disorders.

Browse Combat Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

West Virginia University is the lead sponsor of 157 studies on the registry; 36 are open to participants now.

Of its 19 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 16 (84%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

  • Males and non-pregnant females aged 20 - 65 years at time of enrollment.
  • Able and willing to give .
  • Diagnosis of PTSD according to criteria
  • Prior treatment failure or partial response to at least one evidence-based therapy for PTSD (pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic).
  • Currently are under the care of a psychiatrist or other mental health care provider and agrees to promptly inform the investigator or the study staff of any change in these providers.
  • If on prescribed medication for the treatment of PTSD, or for any other underlying psychiatric conditions, must be on a stable dose (stable dose is defined as within the therapeutic range but does not require same exact dose) for ≥4 weeks prior to screening.
  • If engaged in psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD, or for any other underlying psychiatric condition, therapy must be stable and ongoing for ≥4 weeks prior to screening.
  • Willing to not receive any other experimental treatment for PTSD during the study period.
  • Willing to cooperate with the study requirements, including compliance with the regimen, admission requirements, completion of all study visits, and study assessments.
  • Able to communicate sensations during the FUS procedure.
  • Willing to undergo stress induction before, during, and/or after the procedure that may be triggered by trauma-related cueing.
  • Participants of must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use effective methods while participating in the study.

A candidate will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:

  • Unable to undergo MR-imaging because of non-MR compatible implants or if candidates are uncomfortable in small spaces (have claustrophobia).
  • MRI abnormality indicative of a neurological condition or abnormality that may jeopardize the participant's safety, study conduct, or confound the participant's diagnostic assessments.
  • Participants who are unable or unwilling to lay flat/sit and tolerate the required prolonged stationary position during treatment (approximately 1-2 hours).
  • History of any clinically significant neurological disorder or condition (e.g., brain surgery in basal ganglion region, brain tumors, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, medically uncontrolled epilepsy, or any others deemed clinically significant by the investigator).
  • Use of medications that significantly lower the seizure threshold or interfere with neuromodulation safety, as determined by the study physician.
  • Currently participating in another clinical investigation with an active treatment arm or participated in any experimental therapy (drug or biologic or device) within 3 months prior to Screening.
  • A current or reasonably anticipated ongoing traumatic context, including violence, abuse, credible threats, stalking, exploitation, continued traumatic contact with a perpetrator, or an unsafe living environment, that would materially compromise the participant's safety or ability to participate in the study intervention or assessments.
  • High Acute Risk of Suicide as determined clinically, including, but not limited to, current suicidal ideation, intent, or plan.
  • High Acute Risk of Homicide as determined clinically, including, but not limited to, current homicidal ideation, intent, or plan.
  • Clinically significant level of depression requiring further and/or imminent intervention as indicated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
  • Participant is pregnant/lactating or planning to be pregnant.
  • Past or present diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder.
  • Past or present diagnosis of a Personality Disorder-Cluster B.
  • Current or ongoing legal issues that may interfere with study participation.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(5)

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.

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.

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.

Reproductive potential

Able to have children. For women this usually means from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery; for men, unless permanently sterile. Read who the line is about — participants, women, men, or their partners.

Criteria about it usually ask for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

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.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
15 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Treatment

    FUS Neuromodulation

    Device: Focused Ultrasound

Interventions

  • DeviceFocused Ultrasound

    Subjects will undergo a single focused ultrasound Neuromodulation of the target brain region

    Also known as: NaviFus

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events

    All adverse events that are related to FUS treatment will be assessed

    Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in PTSD Symptoms

    Changes in trauma-related symptoms as assessed by CAPS-5

    Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline

  2. Change in PTSD Symptoms

    Changes in trauma-related symptoms as assessed by PTSD checklist PCL5

    Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline

  3. Change in Depression

    Change in depression using the Hamilton Depression rating Scale (HAMD)

    Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline

  4. Change in anxiety

    Change in anxiety as measured by Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD7)

    Time frame: Week 4 and 12 compared to baseline

  5. Suicidal behavior

    Change in suicidal behavior using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale

    Time frame: Week 4 an 12 compared to baseline

07

Study locations

1 site
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

2 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
Registered
First appeared on the registry. No changes since
Oct 28, 2026
Show all 2 updates
  1. Nov 10, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: conditions
  2. Oct 28, 2026
    First appeared on the registry

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07900841
Responsible party
Ali Rezai (Executive Chair and Director Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 28, 2026
Start date
Nov 25, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 30, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 30, 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 10, 2026

Study contacts

Matthew Zell, MD
Contact
mzell@hsc.wvu.edu
304-293-8182
Jennifer Marton, BA
Contact
jmarton@hsc.wvu.edu
304-293-5886
Ali Rezai
principal investigator · WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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