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Recruiting NCT01627301

NCT01627301 Sympathetic Overactivity in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT01627301
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor Emory University
Condition Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 120 participants
Start Date 2012-07
Primary Completion 2027-12

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 65 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Device-Guided Breathing (DGB)Sham DGBTranscutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS)

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 120 participants in total. It began in 2012-07 with a primary completion date of 2027-12.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent anxiety disorder that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and hypertension. One potential mechanism is overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), both at rest and particularly during stress. This study will evaluate whether 8 weeks of daily DGB therapy or transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) therapy improves SNS activity at rest and during stress.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * prehypertensive and normotensive veterans with PTSD, and prehypertensive and normotensive veterans without PTSD (controls) Exclusion Criteria: * heart or vascular disease * illicit drug use within the last 6 months * excessive alcohol use (\>2 drinks per day) * pregnancy * autonomic dysfunction * medications known to affect SNS (clonidine) * treatment with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within the last 14 days * any serious systemic disease

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Deirdre Dixon, MS

✉ deirdre.dixon@emory.edu

📞 404-321-6111

Principal Investigator

Jeanie Park, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Emory University and the Atlanta VA Medical Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT01627301 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 65 Years, studying Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT01627301 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT01627301 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at deirdre.dixon@emory.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT01627301 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Decatur, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT01627301 clinical trial?

NCT01627301 is sponsored by Emory University. The principal investigator is Jeanie Park, MD at Emory University and the Atlanta VA Medical Center. The trial plans to enroll 120 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology