An interventional study of Active High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Active HD-tDCS) and Sham High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham HD-tDCS) in Short-form Video Addiction, sponsored by Beijing Normal University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-12.
Sponsored by Beijing Normal University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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Among 24 studies in Emotional Regulation with a site in China — 8 open to participants now, 9 under way, none of them phase 3. Emotional Regulation · China.
Among the 24 studies in Emotional Regulation with a site in China, this one is the 13th largest by planned enrollment of the 22 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 4 that started in 2026, is one of 21 with no phase, and was the 24th registered.
547 studies on the registry are indexed under Emotional Regulation; 190 are open to participants now.
Browse Emotional Regulation studies →8 of the 24 studies in Emotional Regulation with a site in China are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
City University of Hong Kong · Sites in China
Ages 10+ · Healthy volunteers
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China · Sites in China
Ages 18–30 · Healthy volunteers
Shanghai Mental Health Center · Sites in China
Ages 18–60 · Healthy volunteers
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China · Sites in China
Ages 15–18 · Healthy volunteers
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China · Sites in China
Ages 18–50 · Healthy volunteers
A study can be open while its sites in China have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in China →
Of the 136 Emotional Regulation studies recruiting now, 36 (26%) set no upper age limit and 96 (71%) stop at 75 or younger; 47 take children under 18; 66 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 30 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
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24 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
First in 2016; this study’s year is marked. 4 started in 2026.
This study's planned enrollment of 82 is close to the median of 80 across 500 interventional studies indexed under Emotional Regulation.
Median enrollment 117 across the 22 interventional studies, 161 across the 2 observational. Of the 11 that completed or were terminated, 0 (0%) have results posted.
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None of the 24 has an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
Beijing Normal University is the lead sponsor of 32 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
Beijing Normal University has 2 studies filed under Emotional Regulation — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
2 of the studies in Emotional Regulation with a site in China that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT07931729Beijing Normal UniversityElectrical Brain Stimulation for College Students With Short-Form Video Addiction: Effects and Mechanisms | 2027-05-31 |
| NCT07639476Beijing HuiLongGuan HospitalStudy on Mental Health Promoting Effects of Natural Psychotherapy for Adolescents | 2027-07-31 |
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Among the 24 studies in Emotional Regulation with a site in China, from their registry updates:
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The researchers will test whether high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) combined with real-time short-form video cue exposure can reduce addiction severity and daily usage time in college students with problematic short-form video use. By modulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, this study aims to explore whether the treatment improves executive function (such as self-control and risk decision-making) and emotional-cognitive processes (such as craving and attentional bias). Assessments will be conducted before, immediately after the 2-week intervention, and at a 4-week follow-up, using both subjective surveys and objective computer cognitive tasks. Results could pave the way for a low-cost, non-invasive, and scalable intervention strategy to address the growing public health concern of short-form video addiction among young adults.
Over the past few years, problematic short-form video use has emerged as a significant public health concern among college students, associated with impaired executive function, academic decline, and emotional distress. Neuroimaging studies suggest that excessive short-form video consumption is linked to hypoactivity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), which disrupts the balance between cognitive control and reward-driven habits. However, evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions for short-form video addiction remain scarce.
This study builds upon the dual-pathway model of internet addiction and utilizes a high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) protocol with a 4x1 ring configuration targeting the right dlPFC (center anode with 4 surrounding return electrodes) to restore prefrontal control. Participants will receive 10 daily HD-tDCS sessions over 2 consecutive weeks. Crucially, to enhance the targeted therapeutic effect, participants will undergo concurrent cue exposure-watching short-form videos on their personal mobile phones for 12 minutes during each 15-minute active or sham HD-tDCS session.
This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial (N=82) employs a longitudinal design with three assessment time points (baseline, post-intervention at week 2, and a 4-week follow-up). We hypothesize that active HD-tDCS will significantly reduce addiction symptoms and usage duration compared to sham. Furthermore, we propose a parallel mediation model to explore the underlying mechanisms: specifically, whether the intervention effect is mediated by improvements in executive function (response inhibition and risk decision-making) and emotional-cognitive pathways (reductions in craving and attentional bias). Results may inform the development of scalable, neuroplasticity-based interventions to mitigate digital addiction and promote mental well-being in young adults.
The sample size was determined a priori using G*Power software (version 3.1.9.7). Based on the effect size (Cohen's f = 0.35) derived from previous meta-analytic findings regarding multiple-session tDCS interventions, assuming an alpha error probability of 0.05, a statistical power of 0.80, 2 groups, and 3 repeated measurements (i.e., pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up), a minimum total sample size of 82 participants is required.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants receive active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) using a NeuroConn stimulator. A 4x1 ring electrode configuration is applied: the center anodal (positive) electrode is placed over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F4), surrounded by four cathodal (negative) return electrodes. The stimulation is delivered at 1.5 mA for 15 minutes. Participants receive one session per day, 5 days per week, for 2 consecutive weeks.
Device: Active High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Active HD-tDCS)
Participants receive sham HD-tDCS using the identical NeuroConn device, 4x1 ring electrode configuration, and procedure as the active group. The device delivers a brief current (ramped up and down over 30 seconds) at the beginning of the 15-minute session to mimic the initial skin sensation, but the current is turned off for the remainder of the session. Participants receive one session per day, 5 days per week, for 2 consecutive weeks.
Device: Sham High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham HD-tDCS)
Description: Active HD-tDCS is delivered using a NeuroConn device with a 4x1 ring configuration (center anodal electrode over the right dlPFC, surrounded by 4 cathodal returns). The stimulation is delivered at 1.5 mA for 15 minutes. Participants receive 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Concurrently during the stimulation, participants watch short-form videos on their mobile phones for approximately 14-15 minutes (using the same platform identified at baseline). A pre-programmed active code ensures strict double-blinding.
Description: Sham HD-tDCS uses the identical NeuroConn device and 4x1 ring configuration as the active group. The current is ramped up for 30 seconds and then turned off for the remainder of the 15-minute session to mimic the initial skin sensation. Participants receive 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Concurrently during the sham stimulation, participants watch short-form videos on their mobile phones for approximately 14-15 minutes (using the same platform identified at baseline). A pre-programmed sham code ensures strict double-blinding.
Change in Short-form Video Addiction Scale Score
Assessed using the 25-item Short-form Video Addiction Scale, which includes two dimensions: Addictive Dependence and Negative Consequence. Each item is scored on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). The total score ranges from 25 to 175. A higher score indicates a more severe level of short-form video addiction.
Time frame: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Average Daily Short-form Video Use Duration
Self-reported average time (in minutes) spent watching short-form videos per day over the past week. A higher duration indicates more excessive use.
Time frame: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Executive Function Composite Score (SSRT & BART)
A composite executive function score will be derived using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) from two tasks: (1) Stop-Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) from the Stop-Signal Task, and (2) Adjusted Average Pumps (AAP) from the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). The factor score extracted from the EFA will serve as the composite indicator, accounting for the relative weighting of each measure. Factor scores will be oriented such that higher values indicate better overall executive function.
Time frame: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Emotion-Cognition Composite Score (Craving, ABS, ER)
A composite emotion-cognition score will be derived using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) from three measures: (1) Craving Score, (2) Attentional Bias Score (ABS) from the dot-probe task, and (3) Emotion Regulation Score. The factor score extracted from the EFA will serve as the composite indicator to capture the shared variance among these measures. Factor scores will be oriented such that higher values indicate more favorable emotional-cognitive outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention
Plan to share: Undecided
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for May 2027, 6 months later.
Of 391 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Emotional Regulation, half reached primary completion within 18 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 36. This study's planned 6 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 397 studies reached it within 18 months; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 36.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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 ↗
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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Beijing Normal University