Dawood Rahimi M, Taghi Kheirkhah M, Salehi Fadardi J. Efficacy of tDCS in chronic migraine: A multiprotocol randomized controlled trial.
Clin Neurophysiol 2023;
150:119-130. [PMID:
37060843 DOI:
10.1016/j.clinph.2023.03.013]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Given the prevalence and complicated pathophysiology of migraine, unknown or varied mechanisms of action of available monotherapies or add-on therapies, and their broad range of adverse effects, it is imperative to manage migraine symptoms using a non-invasive, multifunctional, and alternate monotherapy with no negative impacts.
METHODS
We used a single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled design with baseline, post-test, and 24-weeks follow-up measurements to assess the efficacy of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in chronic migraine. A total of 150 participants were randomly assigned to the five groups (i.e., allocation ratio of 1:1:1:1:1). Each group received tDCS-intervention for 11 consecutive-weeks (25 sessions; each session = two consecutive montages; each montage = a 20 min duration, 2000 μA intensity).
RESULTS
The multivariate analysis of variance showed significant (p <.05) reductions in chronic migraine symptoms in the four intervention groups. Compared with the sham (η2 < 0.18) and other protocols (two = η2 > 0.42; three = η2 > 0.40; four = η2 > 0.51), protocol one [l. anode at the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortices, cathode at the left dorsomedial and superior frontal gyrus-first montage; anode at the right primary motor area, cathode at the medial crosstalk of hemispheres-second montage] showed a larger effect size (η2 > 0.59) in the present trial.
CONCLUSIONS
With the applied protocols of the present trial, tDCS can be used as an effective intervention for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of chronic migraine. However, while the second protocol was the least effective, the first was the most effective at reducing migraine symptoms.
SIGNIFICANCE
To our knowledge, the present trial is the first study to cover the gaps of the earlier ones, including the parameters like the site of stimulation, electrode range distribution and field intensity, number of sessions, session design, and sample size.
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