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Chu CS, Chang CH, Pan CC, Chiang YC, Kuo HY, Hsu TW, Chen SL, Chen CS. Effect of cranial electrotherapy stimulation as an add-on therapy on late-life generalized anxiety disorder: An open-label study. J Formos Med Assoc 2024; 123:781-787. [PMID: 38485555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is beneficial in reducing anxiety in psychiatric patients. However, no studies have reported on elderly patients with generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a 6-week CES intervention for late-life GAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS This single-arm pilot study assessed 6-week CES treatment (Alpha-Stim AID) for late-life GAD and 4-week follow-up post intervention. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used as baseline and outcome measures at weeks 4, 6, and 10, respectively. Treatment response was defined as 50 % or more reduction of the HAMA score and remission was defined as a of score ≤7 on the HAMA. Other measures included depression, sleep quality, and quality of life assessment. RESULTS We included participants (n = 27) aged 68.0 ± 5.0 years, 81.5 % of whom were female. Fifteen (55.6 %), 18 (66.7 %), and 15 (55.6 %) patients were concurrently treated with antidepressants, BZDs, and antipsychotics, respectively. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis revealed a significant decrease in HAMA scores from baseline (20.96 ± 3.30) to week 6 (12.26 ± 7.09) and one-month (12.85 ± 7.08) follow-up at W10 (all p < 0.001). The response and remission rates were 33.3 %, 40.7 %, and 48.1 % and 25.9 %, 29.6 %, and 25.9 % at W4, W6, and W10, respectively. The CES improved depression and sleep conditions as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. CONCLUSION CES clinically reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and may improve sleep quality in late-life GAD. Future randomized controlled study is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Sheng Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Non-invasive Neuromodulation Consortium for Mental Disorders, Society of Psychophysiology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Ho Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chuan Pan
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chih Chiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ya Kuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tien-Wei Hsu
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Dachang Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shiou-Lan Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center and MSc Program in Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Professional Studies, National Pingtung University, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Sheng Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Bao C, Wei M, Pan H, Wen M, Liu Z, Xu Y, Jiang H. A preliminary study for the clinical effect of one combinational physiotherapy and its potential influence on gut microbial composition in children with Tourette syndrome. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1184311. [PMID: 37781119 PMCID: PMC10541309 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1184311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tourette syndrome (TS) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder with unknown causes and inadequate therapies. Inspired by the important roles of gut microbiota in some mental illnesses, the interactions between gut microbiota and TS via the gut-brain axis have gained more and more attention. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbial profiles in children with TS, and explore the clinical effects of one combinational physiotherapy and its potential influence on gut microbial composition. Methods The gut microbial profiles were depicted based on the sequence data of 32 patients and 29 matched health children by 16S rDNA amplicon pyrosequencing. Thirty of thirty-two patients underwent uninterrupted two 10-day courses of combinational physiotherapy, which included a 60-minute cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) training followed by a 30-minute biofeedback training per session, 2 sessions a day. Results Our results indicated that the gut microbial composition in children with TS was different from that in healthy controls. Multiple GBM neurotransmitter modules obtained through Picrust2 functional predictive analysis were significantly increased in patients, including Histamine degradation, Dopamine degradation, and DOPAC synthesis. Moreover, this combinational physiotherapy could significantly diminish tic activity, whose positive effects were first reported in children with TS. Lastly, different gut microbial compositions and predictive metabolic pathways were also observed between patients before and after this treatment, with lower abundances of the genera (e.g., Dorea) and significant decreases of GBM neurotransmitter modules (e.g. dopamine degradation) in patients after this treatment, indicating that improved clinical symptoms might be accompanied by an improvement of intestinal microenvironment. Discussion Children with TS showed a cognizable gut microbial profile, and certain enriched bacteria with pro-inflammatory potential might induce neuroinflammatory responses. This combinational physiotherapy could significantly diminish tic activity, and the gut microbial compositions in patients after this treatment were different from those without any treatment, indicating the existence of bidirectional communication of the gut-brain axis in TS. But studies on the gut microbial characteristics in TS patients, the influences of gut microbiota on tic severity, the efficacy and safety of this treatment, and the bidirectional regulatory mechanism between brain signals and gut microbiota in TS still need to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Bao
- Department of Child Healthcare, Xiangyang No. 1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Meng Wei
- Department of Child Healthcare, Xiangyang No. 1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Hongguo Pan
- Department of Child Healthcare, Xiangyang No. 1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Ming Wen
- Zhangjiang Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Biotecan Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Ziming Liu
- Zhangjiang Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Biotecan Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Zhangjiang Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Biotecan Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Huihui Jiang
- Zhangjiang Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Biotecan Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
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Ching PY, Hsu TW, Chen GW, Pan CC, Chu CS, Chou PH. Efficacy and Tolerability of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation in the Treatment of Anxiety: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:899040. [PMID: 35757229 PMCID: PMC9218324 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.899040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) for patients with anxiety symptoms. METHOD We searched the Pubmed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase and Medline for randomized control trials (RCTs) from the time of inception until November 15, 2021, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. The primary outcomes were the mean change scores for anxiety symptoms. The secondary outcomes were the mean change scores for depressive symptoms. RESULTS Eleven RCTs were eligible (n = 794, mean age: 41.4, mean population of female: 64.8%). CES significantly reduced the anxiety symptoms compared to the control group [k = 11, n = 692, Hedge's g = -0.625, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = -0.952 to -0.298, P < 0.001] with moderate effect size. The subgroup analysis showed that CES reduced both primary and secondary anxiety (primary anxiety, k =3, n = 288, Hedges' g = -1.218, 95% CIs = -1.418 to -0.968, P = 0.007; secondary anxiety, k = 8, n = 504, Hedges' g = -0.334, 95% CIs = -0.570 to -0.098, P = 0.006). After performing between group analysis, we found CES has significant better efficacy for patients with primary anxiety than those with secondary anxiety (P < 0.001). For secondary outcome, CES significantly reduced depressive symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders (k = 8, n = 552, Hedges' g = -0.648, 95% CIs = -1.062 to -0.234, P = 0.002). No severe side effects were reported and the most commonly reported adverse events were ear discomfort and ear pain. CONCLUSION We found CES is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms with moderate effect size in patients with both primary and secondary anxiety. Furthermore, CES was well-tolerated and acceptable.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021267916.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pao-Yuan Ching
- Department of Psychiatric, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tien-Wei Hsu
- Department of Psychiatric, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Wei Chen
- Department of Psychiatric, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chuan Pan
- Department of Psychiatric, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Che-Sheng Chu
- Department of Psychiatric, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Consortium for Mental Disorders, Society of Psychophysiology, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Han Chou
- Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, China Medical University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Brunyé TT, Patterson JE, Wooten T, Hussey EK. A Critical Review of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Neuromodulation in Clinical and Non-clinical Samples. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:625321. [PMID: 33597854 PMCID: PMC7882621 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.625321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is a neuromodulation tool used for treating several clinical disorders, including insomnia, anxiety, and depression. More recently, a limited number of studies have examined CES for altering affect, physiology, and behavior in healthy, non-clinical samples. The physiological, neurochemical, and metabolic mechanisms underlying CES effects are currently unknown. Computational modeling suggests that electrical current administered with CES at the earlobes can reach cortical and subcortical regions at very low intensities associated with subthreshold neuromodulatory effects, and studies using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show some effects on alpha band EEG activity, and modulation of the default mode network during CES administration. One theory suggests that CES modulates brain stem (e.g., medulla), limbic (e.g., thalamus, amygdala), and cortical (e.g., prefrontal cortex) regions and increases relative parasympathetic to sympathetic drive in the autonomic nervous system. There is no direct evidence supporting this theory, but one of its assumptions is that CES may induce its effects by stimulating afferent projections of the vagus nerve, which provides parasympathetic signals to the cardiorespiratory and digestive systems. In our critical review of studies using CES in clinical and non-clinical populations, we found severe methodological concerns, including potential conflicts of interest, risk of methodological and analytic biases, issues with sham credibility, lack of blinding, and a severe heterogeneity of CES parameters selected and employed across scientists, laboratories, institutions, and studies. These limitations make it difficult to derive consistent or compelling insights from the extant literature, tempering enthusiasm for CES and its potential to alter nervous system activity or behavior in meaningful or reliable ways. The lack of compelling evidence also motivates well-designed and relatively high-powered experiments to assess how CES might modulate the physiological, affective, and cognitive responses to stress. Establishing reliable empirical links between CES administration and human performance is critical for supporting its prospective use during occupational training, operations, or recovery, ensuring reliability and robustness of effects, characterizing if, when, and in whom such effects might arise, and ensuring that any benefits of CES outweigh the risks of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tad T. Brunyé
- U. S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Cognitive Science Team, Natick, MA, United States
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Joseph E. Patterson
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Thomas Wooten
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Erika K. Hussey
- U. S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Cognitive Science Team, Natick, MA, United States
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
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