World Trade Center (WTC) responders have high rates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and experience barriers to engagement in mental health care. This study aims to determine whether a novel, non-invasive form of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS), is acceptable and feasible for use with WTC responders who have PTSD and whether the methodology to test the efficacy of taVNS in reducing PTSD symptoms in a larger trial is acceptable and feasible. This will involve the conduct of a formative phase focus group and then a pilot feasibility study with Northwell-affiliated WTC responders who have PTSD.
Study Design: consists of a focus group (Aim 1) and a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility trial with a parallel-design (Aim 2)
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