# Neuromodulation for impulsivity and suicidality in Veterans with mildtraumatic brain injury and common co-occurring mental health conditions

> **NIH VA IK2** · EDWARD HINES JR VA HOSPITAL · 2024 · —

## Abstract

This Career Development Award Level 2 (CDA2) represents the candidate’s effort to execute a pilot
study of a novel neuromodulatory treatment for Veteran [social and occupational functioning], impulsivity and
[suicidal ideation] following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The candidate’s first aim will examine the
tolerability, safety and feasibility of frontal pole intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for Veterans with mild
traumatic brain injury (mTBI), negative urgency impulsivity, [and suicidal ideation]. This is important because
impulsivity, which is exhibited in up to 40% of individuals with TBI, is an independent risk factor for dying by
suicide and is associated with poorer functional outcomes following TBI. Presently, there are no widely
accepted treatment strategies for impulsivity, [suicidal ideation and social and occupational functional deficits]
following TBI. The candidate’s second aim is to determine the effects of frontal pole iTBS on social and
community functioning, negative urgency impulsivity and [suicidal ideation]. This will allow the scientific
community to better understand how frontal pole iTBS treatment impacts [social and community] functioning
and mental health outcomes. Finally, the candidate aims to evaluate whether iTBS improves connectivity
between the VMPFC and limbic system, using resting state functional connectivity MRI. Completing this aim
will allow us to better understand how iTBS affects neural connectivity and whether these changes are related
to functional and mental health outcomes.
 This research is critical as suicide is a major issue among Veterans within the VA system. Veterans are
22% more likely to die by suicide than civilians. Veterans with TBI are even more likely to die by suicide than
those without TBI. It is important to create a treatment to prevent unnecessary Veteran deaths while helping
Veterans feel empowered and functional within their communities. [Suicide and TBI are not unique to Veterans,
however. Civilians with TBI are also more likely to die by suicide than those without. Thus, findings from this
research could serve to improve neuropsychiatric care in the civilian sector, as well.] This project serves as a
critical first step in allowing the candidate and her team to develop a biologically-informed treatment strategy
for the many individuals who struggle with mTBI, [social and occupational functional deficits], impulsivity and
[suicidal ideation].
 Ultimately, the candidate’s long-term career goal is to become an independent clinical researcher in the
VA system with expertise in TBI, suicidality, neurostimulation and neuroimaging. As such, she will complete a
careful training plan under the mentorship of a strong, multidisciplinary training team involving opportunities for
networking with experts in fields relating to the above research, hands-on training in necessary research skills
and coursework complementary to the research project.
 The planned research is signific...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10784598
- **Project number:** 5IK2RX004298-02
- **Recipient organization:** EDWARD HINES JR VA HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexandra Leigh Aaronson
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10784598

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10784598, Neuromodulation for impulsivity and suicidality in Veterans with mildtraumatic brain injury and common co-occurring mental health conditions (5IK2RX004298-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10784598. Licensed CC0.

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