scholarly journals The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation compared to standard bupropion for the treatment of tobacco dependence: A randomized sham-controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahram Ghorbani Behnam ◽  
Seyed Abbas Mousavi ◽  
Mohammad Hassan Emamian

AbstractBackground:Current treatments for smoking cessation are not effective for most smokers. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on smoking cessation.Methods:In this randomized, sham-controlled trial study, tobacco-dependent (by DSM-5) male participants were recruited from the general public invitation. Participants were randomly allocated to 5 groups; (A), treatment with 300mg bupropion for 8 weeks; (B), active tDCS (20 sessions for 4 weeks); (C), sham for group B ; (D), active tDCS (20 sessions for 12 weeks), and (E), sham for group D. The electrode montage was anode F3 and cathode F4. Study outcomes include salivary cotinine, Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, and smoked cigarette per day, were examined on three time points. Repeated-measures analysis of variances and the generalized estimation equation (GEE) model were employed for data analysis.Results:Among 210 volunteers, 170 participants completed the study. Mean age of participants was 42.9 years, ranging from 21 to 64 years. The 6-month point abstinence rates in groups A, B and D were 20%, 7% and 25.7%, and in C, D sham groups were 3.1% and 3% respectively. Results of the GEE model showed that although group D was not different from group A in abstinence rate, i.e., salivary cotinine >4 (p = 0.266), nicotine dependency by Fagerstrom test was lower in this group compared to group A (p = 0.019).Conclusions:The 12-week tDCS had a clinically good therapeutic effect on smoking cessation and its dependency. It may be a substitute for bupropion treatment.

Author(s):  
Salah Abd Elmonem Sawan ◽  
Abdelazim M. Reda ◽  
Ahmed Hosny Kamel ◽  
Mennat Allah Mohamed Ali

Abstract Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may have a potential for improving post-stroke dysphagia. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of tDCS on improving dysphagia in stroke patients. Patients and methods Forty stroke patients were divided randomly into two equal groups (the study (group A) and control groups (group B). Group A received a physical therapy program and active (tDCS), and group B received the same physical therapy program and sham (tDCS). The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) and videofluoroscopy were performed in all patients before and after 2 weeks of the treatment program. Results Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups for DOSS score or digital fluoroscopic findings. After treatment, there were significant differences between the study and control group for DOSS score and digital fluoroscopic findings. Conclusion Anodal tDCS is effective in improving dysphagia in stroke patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-185
Author(s):  
Ewa Wilczek-Rużyczka ◽  
Aleksandra Gawrońska ◽  
Jolanta Góral-Półrola

The aim of the study was to answer the question as to whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is more effective in reducing burnout syndrome in nurses than the commonly used individual psychotherapy. The study included 40 nurses from various health care facilities located in the Lesser Poland and Podkarpackie Voivodeship suffering from burnout syndrome. They were assigned to the experimental group while 20 to the control group. Two different therapy models were used: the experimental group (A) included 20 of the nurses treated with the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), four times a week for 8 weeks, in sessions that lasted initially 10, then 15, 20, 25 and finally 30 minutes and the control group (B) included 20 of the nurses treated with individual psychotherapy employed for 8 weeks, once a week for 30 minutes. To evaluate the results we used: screening with a clinical interview, the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Beck Depression Inventory and a Polish adaptation of the Italian questionnaire created by Massimo Sentinello (LBQ). Treatment was provided. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) used in Group A is more effective in reducing many symptoms than is the case with individual psychotherapy. Comparing the intragroup effects, it was found that the tDCS employed in Group A significantly reduced the intensity of depressive symptoms among the surveyed nurses [F (1.38) = 57.62; p <0.001; η2 = 0.603] while the individual psychotherapy used in Group B failed to produce a statistically significant effect [F (1.38) = 1.794; p = 0.188; η2 = 0.045]. These include a reduction of depression, a reduction in chronic psychophysical exhaustion, vegetative problem reduction, and the improvement of nurse-patient relations. Neurotherapy with the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is more effective in reducing burnout syndrome than the commonly used individual psychotherapy. It also helps to return these nurses to full professional activity. The studies presented above recommend the use of new neurotechnologies in therapy as a result of their usefulness and non-invasive character.


2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 838-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hesse ◽  
Andreas Waldner ◽  
Jan Mehrholz ◽  
Christopher Tomelleri ◽  
Michael Pohl ◽  
...  

Background. No rehabilitation intervention has effectively improved functional use of the arm and hand in patients with severe upper limb paresis after stroke. Pilot studies suggest the potential for transcranial direct current stimulation and bilateral robotic training to enhance gains. Objective. In a double-blind, randomized trial the combination of these interventions was tested. Methods. This study randomized 96 patients with an ischemic supratentorial lesion of 3 to 8 weeks’ duration with severe impairment of motor control with a Fugl-Meyer score (FMS) for the upper limb <18 into 3 groups. For 6 weeks, group A received anodal stimulation of the lesioned hemisphere, group B received cathodal stimulation of the nonlesioned side for 20 minutes at 2.0 mA, and group C received sham stimulation. The electrodes were placed over the hand area and above the contralateral orbit. Contemporaneously, the subjects practiced 400 repetitions each of 2 different bilateral movements on a robotic assistive device. Results. The groups were matched at onset. The FMS improved in all patients at 6 weeks ( P < .001). No between-group differences were found; initial versus finish FMS scores were 7.8 ± 3.8 versus 19.1 ± 14.4 in group A, 7.9 ± 3.4 versus 18.8 ± 10.5 in group B, and 8.2 ± 4.4 versus 19.2 ± 15.0 in group C. No significant changes between groups were present at 3 months. Conclusions. Neither anodal nor cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhanced the effect of bilateral arm training in this exploratory trial of patients with cortical involvement and severe weakness. Unilateral hand training and upregulation of the nonlesioned hemisphere might also be tried in this population.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110212
Author(s):  
Alexandre Moreira ◽  
Daniel Gomes da Silva Machado ◽  
Marom Bikson ◽  
Gozde Unal ◽  
Paul S. Bradley ◽  
...  

This study investigated the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with a recovery training session on the well-being and self-perceived recovery of professional female soccer players after official matches. Data from 13 world-class players were analyzed after participating in four official soccer matches of the first division of the Brazilian Women’s Soccer Championship (7-, 10-, and 13-day intervals). We applied anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with 2 mA for 20 minutes (+F3/−F4 montage) the day after each match. Participants underwent two randomly ordered sessions of a-tDCS or sham. Players completed the Well-Being Questionnaire (WBQ) and the Total Quality Recovery (TQR) scale before each experimental condition and again the following morning. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant time x condition interaction on the WBQ (F(1,11)=5.21; p=0.043; ηp2=0.32), but not on the TQR (F(1,12) = 0.552; p = 0.47; ηp2 = 0.044). There was a large effect size (ES) for a-tDCS for the WBQ score (ES = 1.02; 95%CI = 0.17;1.88), and there was a moderate WBQ score increase (ES = 0.53; 95%CI = −0.29;1.34) for the sham condition. We found similar increases in the TQR score for a-tDCS (ES = 1.50; 95%CI = 0.63–2.37) and the sham condition (ES = 1.36; 95%CI = 0.51–2.22). These results suggest that a-tDCS (+F3/−F4 montage) combined with a recovery training session may slightly improve perceived well-being beyond the level of improvement after only the recovery training session among world-class female soccer players. Prior to widely adopting this recovery approach, further study is needed with larger and more diverse samples, including for female teams of different performance levels.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Babyar ◽  
Taiza Santos-Pontelli ◽  
Tenysson Will-Lemos ◽  
Suleimy Mazin ◽  
Dylan Edwards ◽  
...  

Objective: To assess the effects of 2mA transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) over the affected Parietal-Insular-Vestibular Cortex (PIVC) on seated posture of patients with lateropulsion following stroke. We hypothesized that bilateral electrode placement over PIVC (vs active control) would produce a change in seated posture. Background: Lateropulsion following stroke (Pusher Syndrome) is characterized by lateral displacement of subjective postural vertical toward the weak side. It is caused by lesions affecting vestibular projections to the Ventral Lateral Thalamus (VLT) or projections from the VLT to the Parietal-Insular-Vestibular Cortex (PIVC). Methods: Seventeen subjects with Burke Lateropulsion Scale scores ≥ 2 within 30 days of an ischemic stroke signed an IRB-approved consent. They received 2mA tDCS delivered using 25cm 2 saline soaked sponge electrodes via one of two montages: Test (anode over the affected PIVC and cathode opposite PIVC) versus Active Control (anode over the affected PIVC and cathode over the opposite supra-orbital region). PIVC was defined using EEG 10/20 coordinates. Seated medial-lateral center of pressure (COP-X) was measured using a custom-designed chair mounted on an AMTI™ analog-to-digital forceplate. An inclinometer strapped to the chest and aligned with the sternum measured lateral trunk tilt. Data were collected prior to, then at 5, 10, and 15 minutes during tDCS and 5 min following tDCS. Results: Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance rejected the hypothesis of an interaction between Montage and Time for: mean COP-X displacement (in) (Wilks’ λ F = 0.647 df =(4, 13), P = 0.639); mean speed of COP-X (in/s) (Wilks’ λ F = 0.740 df =(4, 13), P =0.581); mean inclinometer tilt (degrees) (Wilks’ λ F = 0.740 df =(4, 13), P =0.581). Conclusion: Neither tDCS montage showed improvement in COP-X displacement, COP-X movement velocity or inclinometer readings. These negative results are important to encourage the development of alternative tDCS stimulation parameters or identification of alternative cortical or vestibular tDCS targets for the treatment of Lateropulsion Following Stroke.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document