Multitarget Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Freezing of Gait: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Manor ◽  
Moria Dagan ◽  
Talia Herman ◽  
Natalia A. Gouskova ◽  
Veronique G. Vanderhorst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Freezing Of Gait ◽  
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Randomized Controlled

scholarly journals Transcranial random noise stimulation for the acute treatment of depression: a randomized controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stevan Nikolin ◽  
Angelo Alonzo ◽  
Donel Martin ◽  
Veronica Gálvez ◽  
Sara Buten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Random Noise ◽  
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation ◽  
Treatment Of Depression

AbstractBackgroundTranscranial electrical stimulation has broad potential as a treatment for depression. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), which delivers randomly fluctuating current intensities, may have greater cortical excitatory effects compared to other forms of transcranial electrical stimulation. We therefore aimed to investigate the antidepressant efficacy of tRNS.MethodsDepressed participants were randomly assigned by computer number generator to receive 20 sessions of either active or sham tRNS over four weeks in a double-blinded, parallel group randomized-controlled trial. tRNS was delivered for 30mins with a direct current offset of 2mA and a random noise range of 2mA. Primary analyses assessed changes in depression severity using the Montgomery-Asperg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Neuroplasticity, neuropsychological, and safety outcomes were analysed as secondary measures.Results69 participants were randomised, of which three discontinued treatment early leaving 66 (sham n = 34, active n = 32) for per-protocol analysis. Depression severity scores reduced in both groups (MADRS reduction in sham = 7.0 [95%CI 5.0-8.9]; and active = 5.2 [95%CI 3.2-7.3]). However, there were no differences between active and sham groups in the reduction of depressive symptoms, or the number of participants meeting response (sham = 14.7%; active = 3.1%) and remission criteria (sham = 5.9%; active = 0%). Erythema, paraesthesia, fatigue, and dizziness/light-headedness occurred more frequently in the active tRNS group. Neuroplasticity, neuropsychological and acute cognitive effects were comparable between groups.ConclusionOur results do not support the use of tRNS with the current stimulation parameters as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of depression.Clinical trial registration at clinicaltrials.gov/NCT01792414.Significance StatementThis is the first randomized sham-controlled clinical trial of a four-week course of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) for the treatment of depression. tRNS is a relatively novel form of non-invasive electrical stimulation that uses mild, randomly fluctuating currents to constrain homeostatic mechanisms and increase brain excitability. We investigated effects across multiple validated mood outcomes and comprehensively assessed cognitive, neurophysiological, and physical side effects to examine the safety of tRNS. We found no differences between active and sham conditions for all mood outcomes, and are thus unable to lend support for tRNS as an effective treatment for depression. We found tRNS to be well-tolerated with no adverse acute cognitive, neuropsychological or severe phyisical side effects, suggesting a course of 20 repeated sessions can be delivered safely.

scholarly journals Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation for the Acute Treatment of Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stevan Nikolin ◽  
Angelo Alonzo ◽  
Donel Martin ◽  
Veronica Gálvez ◽  
Sara Buten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Random Noise ◽  
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation ◽  
Treatment Of Depression

Abstract Background Transcranial electrical stimulation has broad potential as a treatment for depression. Transcranial random noise stimulation, which delivers randomly fluctuating current intensities, may have greater cortical excitatory effects compared with other forms of transcranial electrical stimulation. We therefore aimed to investigate the antidepressant efficacy of transcranial random noise stimulation. Methods Depressed participants were randomly assigned by computer number generator to receive 20 sessions of either active or sham transcranial random noise stimulation over 4 weeks in a double-blinded, parallel group randomized-controlled trial. Transcranial random noise stimulation was delivered for 30 minutes with a direct current offset of 2 mA and a random noise range of 2 mA. Primary analyses assessed changes in depression severity using the Montgomery-Asperg Depression Rating Scale. Neuroplasticity, neuropsychological, and safety outcomes were analyzed as secondary measures. Results Sixty-nine participants were randomized, of which 3 discontinued treatment early, leaving 66 (sham n = 34, active n = 32) for per-protocol analysis. Depression severity scores reduced in both groups (Montgomery-Asperg Depression Rating Scale reduction in sham = 7.0 [95% CI = 5.0–8.9]; and active = 5.2 [95% CI = 3.2–7.3]). However, there were no differences between active and sham groups in the reduction of depressive symptoms or the number of participants meeting response (sham = 14.7%; active = 3.1%) and remission criteria (sham = 5.9%; active = 0%). Erythema, paresthesia, fatigue, and dizziness/light-headedness occurred more frequently in the active transcranial random noise stimulation group. Neuroplasticity, neuropsychological, and acute cognitive effects were comparable between groups. Conclusion Our results do not support the use of transcranial random noise stimulation with the current stimulation parameters as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of depression. Clinical trial registration at clinicaltrials gov/NCT01792414.

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