Study of Chemosensory Enhancement Through Neuromodulation Training (SCENT for Long COVID)

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phasePhase 2, Phase 3
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorMedical University of South Carolina

About this trial

Persistent smell loss that can include diminished or distorted smell function is a common symptom of long COVID syndrome. There are limited treatment options for long COVID-related smell loss. This study aims to determine the efficacy of two at-home treatments, smell training and non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation. This study requires participants to conduct daily at-home treatment sessions, attend three in-person study visits at the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and complete electronic questionnaires over the 12-week trial, and again at the six-month timepoint. Participants in this trial may benefit directly with an improvement in sense of smell. However, participation may also help society more generally, as this study will provide new information about long COVID-related smell loss and its treatment.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

treatment-seeking for COVID-related persistent SL (anosmia, hyposmia, phantosmia or parosmia)

at least 1-month from SARS-coV-2 PCR-positive and/or rapid home-positive tests

normal sense of smell prior to COVID

naïve to both smell training (ST) and trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS)

Disqualifiers

history of head injury (e.g. sport, accident, combat blast)

sinonasal condition (e.g. upper respiratory infection, rhinosinusitis, polyps)

neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorder, narcolepsy)

serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar, or other psychotic disorder)

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS)
  • Active Smell Training (ST)
  • Placebo Smell Training (PBO)

Treatment groups

145 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Medical University of South Carolina

Lead sponsor

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator