Home-based Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for IBS Pain
Key facts
- Where
- New Haven, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 29 years old?
Source: NCT06847360, who can take part
Where in United States
- Yale UniversityNew Haven, United StatesContact: Xiaomei S Cong, PhDTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Yale University
- Trial code
- NCT06847360
- Record updated
- 13 April 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the feasibility and safety of using home-based taVNS in young adults with IBS to manage their IBS-related pain and symptoms. It will also learn about participants' experience in using the home-based taVNS intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are:Read full original descriptionShow less
Home-Based Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for Pain and Symptom Management Among Young Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the feasibility and safety of using home-based taVNS in young adults with IBS to manage their IBS-related pain and symptoms. It will also learn about participants' experience in using the home-based taVNS intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Is it feasible to use a home-based taVNS intervention for pain and symptom management among YAs with IBS? * Is it safe and reported satisfactory to use a home-based taVNS intervention for pain and symptom management among YAs with IBS? Researchers will compare Active to Sham taVNS (a look-alike intervention that contains minimal stimulation) to see if Active taVNS works on managing IBS-related pain and symptoms.
Participants will:
* Take Active or Sham taVNS intervention for a 6-week treatment (twice daily, 30 minutes per session) * Visit the research lab at the initial setup and the end of the 6-week treatment for checkups and tests * Keep a diary of their symptoms and the number of times they use the taVNS.
Inclusion: 18 - 29 years of age; Men and women; Diagnosis of IBS from a healthcare provider with current report of pain (volunteers asked to bring provider-verification of IBS diagnosis based on Rome IV criteria to initial study appointment); Experiencing moderate pain (≥3 out of 10 on numeric rating scale [NRS]) at least 4 days of the week and lasting previous three months; Daily access to a computer connected to the internet; and; Able to read and speak English.
Exclusion: severe psychiatric condition requiring inpatient treatment in previous 6 months; Other chronic pain condition; Celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease; Diabetes mellitus; any other conditions/contraindications that prohibit the application of taVNS including but not limited to any current or past history of cardiovascular disorders, recent ear trauma, and metal implants above the level of the neck; Pregnancy or lactation; Regular use of opioids or other illicit substances; use of probiotics or antibiotics within 2 weeks from enrollment; and.