Mechanisms of Open and Hidden Placebo in Stroke Recovery

Description

This trial aims to investigate whether placebo in isolation (open and hidden) has a specific neural signature in stroke subjects thus providing a novel mechanism to explain placebo effects that can be used to ultimately enhance stroke rehabilitation therapies.

Conditions

Stroke, Hemiparesis

Talk to us

Study Overview

On this page

Study Details

Study overview

This trial aims to investigate whether placebo in isolation (open and hidden) has a specific neural signature in stroke subjects thus providing a novel mechanism to explain placebo effects that can be used to ultimately enhance stroke rehabilitation therapies.

Mechanisms of Open and Hidden Placebo in Stroke Recovery

Mechanisms of Open and Hidden Placebo in Stroke Recovery

Condition
Stroke
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Cambridge

Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02138

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Adults with hemiparesis due to chronic stroke
  • 2. Stroke duration of 6 months or more
  • 3. Fugl-Meyer scale upper extremity motor assessment score of \> 11 and ≤ 56
  • 4. Pre-stroke disability (defined as a score of \< 3 on the Modified Rankin Scale)
  • 5. Age 18 or older
  • 1. Stroke of anterior cerebral artery territory with prefrontal lesion and stroke-related decreased EEG power in the prefrontal cortex
  • 2. Unable to understand instructions
  • 3. TMS contraindications: electronic hardware in close contact to the discharging coil such as cochlear implant, internal pulse generator or medical pump
  • 4. Concurrent unstable medical conditions
  • 5. A score of 24 or higher on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)
  • 6. Joint or paretic extremity pain likely to interfere with assessments
  • 7. Pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital,

Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, MPH, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital/Harvard Medical School

Study Record Dates

2025-06-30