Putting control in patients' hands

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded UC’s Joel Sprunger, PhD, a $2.1 million grant to lead the trial testing Spark Biomedical’s Sparrow Ascent device.

About 50% of people drop out of buprenorphine treatment during the dose adjustment period, and patients with PTSD are at even higher risk for stopping treatment.

In response to this challenge, the trial will utilize the Sparrow Ascent – a patient-administered wearable device that delivers mild electrical stimulation to the cranial branches of the vagus and trigeminal nerves on and around the ear. 

Sprunger said the stimulation “pumps the brakes” on the sympathetic nervous system by enhancing parasympathetic activity, helping to transition someone from fight-or-flight to “rest and digest.”

This method, known as transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN), is FDA-cleared for relieving opioid withdrawal symptoms and may also aid in alleviating symptoms of PTSD. The trial will test the safety and effectiveness of tAN in patients beginning buprenorphine therapy with these co-occurring conditions.

“By providing people control over that stimulation, we can empower them with a way to turn it on when needed and feel some relief,” he said. “Their heart rate slows down, breathing slows down and there’s a lot less of a sense of panic and urgency. So that’s the key ingredient that we think will hit both PTSD and opioid withdrawal symptoms at the same time.”  

Worn on and around the ear, the device is connected by a cable to a controller. Users can activate the stimulation whenever they need it and control its intensity. It can be worn up to 24 hours a day, and the earpiece is disposable and can be replaced each day.

“Autonomic imbalance is a common occurrence in PTSD, which is characterized by experiencing high sympathetic drive (‘fight or flight’) and low parasympathetic drive (‘rest and digest’),” said Navid Khodaparast, PhD, chief science officer at Spark Biomedical. “Additionally, PTSD sufferers experience lower levels of endorphin production which can lead to emotional distress. In this study, we believe tAN therapy will improve these PTSD symptoms, and ultimately help maintain long-term BUP treatment.” 

A total of 20 patients at the Gibson Center for Behavioral Change in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with opioid use disorder and PTSD taking buprenorphine as part of their standard of care will be randomized to either receive the stimulation through the Sparrow Ascent or active sham stimulation at a level that won’t activate the targeted nerves. While there is a minimum required threshold of use each week of the 12-week study, Sprunger said patients can use the device as much as they feel is needed to help manage their symptoms.

In addition to its effect on physical symptoms, Sprunger said the device also gives represents a tool for patients that provides some direct control over a part of their recovery.

“I’m a psychologist, and I see my patients for up to an hour once a week. We can do some meaningful work in that hour, but there are many hours between then and when I might not see that person again,” he said. “It’s really important that people have something they are in control of that can provide some relief whenever they need the support. Being able to put something in their hands that they can use to feel better, especially one that is sensibly a healthy coping strategy, is also very powerful.”

Featured photo at top of woman wearing the Sparrow Ascent device. Photo/Spark Biomedical.