Plain-English translation of NCT04421573 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our PTSD research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
This study is testing whether a procedure called cervical plexus hydrodissection with D5W (a sugar-water solution injected around nerves in the neck) can help reduce PTSD symptoms. The treatment is based on the idea that PTSD may involve an overactive nervous system that can be calmed by this type of injection. Researchers want to see if this approach works as a standalone treatment for people whose PTSD hasn't improved with medication or therapy alone.
Many people with PTSD don't fully recover with standard treatments like medication and talk therapy. This treatment approach is being studied because early results suggest that calming the nervous system through targeted injections may help reduce PTSD symptoms, and because this method can be done safely in an office setting without the risks associated with similar procedures.
If you are assigned to receive the treatment, you will have four injections over 8 weeks (at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 8). If you are assigned to the waiting group, you will continue your current treatments for 3 months and then have the option to receive the treatment. Throughout the study (about a year), you will answer questions about your PTSD symptoms several times using online surveys and phone calls. You can continue any helpful treatments you're already using.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 20, 2026 · Not medical advice
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