Clinical trials

Aphasia is an impairment in the ability to express and/or understand language, commonly observed after stroke to the language dominant (left) hemisphere. Despite natural tendency to spontaneous functional recovery in the first months post stroke and language improvement due to application of behavioral speech and language therapy (SLT), many aphasic patients do not achieve satisfactory level of verbal communication. The aim of the planned study is to explore the potential of the noninvasive repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) as a therapeutic tool for aphasia in addition to traditional behavioral therapy. In case of aphasia, studies on therapeutic effectiveness of rTMS aim to increase the activity of the language-dominant left cerebral hemisphere, which may be achieved in an indirect manner by inhibiting the activity of the opposite (right) hemisphere or in a direct manner by increasing the excitability of preserved language areas in the left hemisphere. In our study, we plan to administer the newest form of rTMS called Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), which is safer than the conventional rTMS, even when used in the perilesional area. Computer-based neuronavigation system will be implemented to precisely localize stimulation targets, control administration of stimuli during rTMS sessions, and evaluate differences between participants regarding deviations from established stimulation points. 45 patients (all right-handed, polish native speakers, aged 18-75 years, diagnosed with non-fluent aphasia) will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups: 1) a group with excitatory intermittent TBS of the left hemisphere (iTBS group), 2) a group with inhibitory continuous TBS of the right hemisphere (cTBS group), 3) a group with sham TBS (sTBS group as a control group). Specific forms of stimulation will be carried out for three consecutive weeks (Monday to Friday; a total of 15 stimulation sessions). Immediately after each session of the stimulation, patients will undergo individual SLT. Assessment of language functioning will be carried out three times: before and after the therapy period, and 3 months after its completion. Results of the study will broaden knowledge about hemispherical mechanisms of language and speech recovery after stroke and provide insight into possibilities of their modulation for the purpose of post-stroke rehabilitation.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneously administered cladribine versus placebo to stop inflammation and treat disease progression of non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. In most patients, it starts with a relapsing course (RMS) which is caused by acute inflammatory lesions in the brain and spinal cord. RMS transforms at later stages into progressive disease (secondary progressive MS). Currently approved disease-modifying treatments are effective in reducing clinical relapses and brain and spinal lesions visible in MR, but they perform poorly in preventing disease progression and overall disability accumulation. The growing evidence shows that disease progression partially depends on chronic inflammation present in the CNS. Drugs, which may cross the blood-brain barrier and reach inflammatory cells residing in the CNS might be effective in this stage of the disease. Cladribine is one of the DMT approved for RMS. It is a synthetic purine analog with selective lymphocyte toxicity, which enter the CNS and is found in cerebrospinal fluid. In patients treated with cladribine, the oligoclonal bands tend to disappear proving that neuroinflammation is diminished. The participants of this clinical trial with the later non-active stage of MS are enrolled to be treated with cladribine subcutaneously or a non-active comparator (placebo) for 6 months and followed for the next 2 years, with an MRI scan and clinical evaluation every 6 months. The main questions it aims to answer are if in the non-active stage of MS cladribine is potent to lessen brain volume loss and if it is potent to attenuate inflammation in the CNS.

Research project entitled "The experience of relational trauma as an important etiological factor of neurotic and/or personality disorders. The 4FM Acceptance training as a new form of therapy for these disorders" assumes the following goals: 1. validation of the Polish version of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ); 2. assessment of prevalence of relational trauma among adult psychiatric patients hospitalized at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology; 3. development a new therapeutic intervention - 4FM Acceptance training - based on the methodology of the Existential Analysis; 4. assessment of the impact of the 4FM Acceptance training among patients with cPTSD. The original therapeutic intervention - 4FM Acceptance training - will be developed based on the methodological assumptions of the 4 Fundamental Motivations (4FM) in the Existential Analysis methodology, developed by Alfried Längle, student of Viktor Frankl, a representative of the Existential Psychology, together with other important representatives, i.e. Rollo May, Irvin Yalom and in Poland prof. Antoni Kępiński.