N/A Completed N=47 Randomized Single-blind Treatment

TMS Augmented Exposure Therapy

Phobia

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02223767 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Aug 2023

Primary outcomePrimary: Subjective Anxiety Symptoms — 17.4; 7.3 units on a scale — p=0.025

Summary

This study investigates the beneficial effects of prefrontal brain stimulation (with a facilitating TMS protocol) before exposure therapy in acrophobic patients. The two exposure sessions were realized in virtual reality. Before and after therapy, the phobic symptoms were measured on a subjective, behavioral and physiological level. The placebo-controlled single blinded study includes 50 phobic patients, which were randomized into verum or sham TMS.

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Subjective Anxiety Symptoms	17.4; 7.3	0.025 sig
PRIMARY Subjective Anxiety in Height Situation (BAT), Differences From Pre (Baseline) to Post Therapy (Week 4)	25.8; 16.3	0.08

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Criteria for a simple phobia: specific heights

Exclusion Criteria

Objective tinnitus Involvement in psychiatric treatments Clinically relevant psychiatric comorbidity Clinically relevant unstable internal or neurological comorbidity History of or evidence of significant brain malformation or neoplasm, head injury Cerebral vascular events Neurodegenerative disorder affecting the brain or prior brain surgery Metal objects in and around body that can not be removed Pregnancy Alcohol or drug abuse history of seizures

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02223767). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.