scholarly journals Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Jin Song ◽  
Sven Vanneste ◽  
Paul Van de Heyning ◽  
Dirk De Ridder
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Systemic Review ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Temporal Area ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Stimulation Parameters

Although transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has already been used to manage tinnitus patients, paucity of reports and variations in protocols preclude a comprehensive understanding. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis based on systemic review to assess effectiveness of tDCS in tinnitus management and to compare stimulation parameters. PubMed was searched for tDCS studies in tinnitus. For randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a meta-analysis was performed. A total of 17 studies were identified and 6 of them were included in the systemic review and 2 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Overall 39.5% responded to active tDCS with a mean tinnitus intensity reduction of 13.5%. Additionally, left temporal area (LTA) and bifrontal tDCS indicated comparable results. Active tDCS was found to be more effective than sham tDCS for tinnitus intensity reduction (Hedges'g=.77, 95% confidence interval 0.23–1.31). The efficacy of tDCS in tinnitus could not be fully confirmed by the current study because of the limited number of studies, but all studies included in the current systemic review and meta-analysis demonstrated significant tinnitus intensity improvement. Therefore, tDCS may be a promising tool for tinnitus management. Future RCTs in a large series regarding the efficacy as well as the comparison between LTA- and bifrontal tDCS are recommended.

Transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of major depression: a meta-analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 1791-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. G. Kalu ◽  
C. E. Sexton ◽  
C. K. Loo ◽  
K. P. Ebmeier
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Meta Regression

BackgroundSo far, no comprehensive answer has emerged to the question of whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can make a clinically useful contribution to the treatment of major depression. We aim to present a systematic review and meta-analysis of tDCS in the treatment of depression.MethodMedline and Embase were searched for open-label and randomized controlled trials of tDCS in depression using the expressions (‘transcranial direct current stimulation’ or ‘tDCS’) and (‘depression’ or ‘depressed’). Study data were extracted with a standardized data sheet. For randomized controlled trials, effect size (Hedges' g) was calculated and the relationships between study variables and effect size explored using meta-regression.ResultsA total of 108 citations were screened and 10 studies included in the systematic review. Six randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis, with a cumulative sample of 96 active and 80 sham tDCS courses. Active tDCS was found to be more effective than sham tDCS for the reduction of depression severity (Hedges' g=0.743, 95% confidence interval 0.21–1.27), although study results differed more than expected by chance (Q=15.52, df=6, p=0.017, I2=61.35). Meta-regression did not reveal any significant correlations.ConclusionsOur study was limited by the small number of studies included, which often had small sample size. Future studies should use larger, if possible representative, health service patient samples, and optimized protocols to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS in the treatment of depression further.

scholarly journals The Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Enhancing Surgical Skill Acquisition: A Preliminary Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 707
Author(s):  
Chao-Ming Hung ◽  
Bing-Yan Zeng ◽  
Bing-Syuan Zeng ◽  
Cheuk-Kwan Sun ◽  
Yu-Shian Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Surgical Skill ◽  
Sham Control ◽  
Surgical Performance ◽  
Randomized Controlled

The application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to targeted cortices has been found to improve in skill acquisition; however, these beneficial effects remained unclear in fine and complicated skill. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to investigate the association between tDCS application and the efficacy of surgical performance during surgical skill training. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of tDCS in enhancing surgical skill acquisition. This meta-analysis was conducted under a random-effect model. Six RCTs with 198 participants were included. The main result revealed that tDCS was associated with significantly better improvement in surgical performance than the sham control (Hedges’ g = 0.659, 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) = 0.383 to 0.935, p < 0.001). The subgroups of tDCS over the bilateral prefrontal cortex (Hedges’ g = 0.900, 95%CIs = 0.419 to 1.382, p < 0.001) and the primary motor cortex (Hedges’ g = 0.599, 95%CIs = 0.245 to 0.953, p = 0.001) were both associated with significantly better improvements in surgical performance. The tDCS application was not associated with significant differences in error scores or rates of local discomfort compared with a sham control. This meta-analysis supported the rationale for the tDCS application in surgical training programs to improve surgical skill acquisition.

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