Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Post-Stroke Aphasia

Columbia University

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Behavioral: Aphasia therapy; Device: Sham tDCS; Device: Anodal tDCS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02461355

AAAO1700

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a randomized, crossover design trial that will compare how anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) versus sham tDCS administered during multiple sessions of scripting therapy affects the acquisition and retention of trained scripts.

Enrollment: 2 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age over 21 years
2. Ischemic left hemispheric stroke verified by imaging (CT or MRI) greater than 6 months ago
3. Residual non-fluent or anomic aphasia, with Western Aphasia Battery-Revised Aphasia Quotient score <60
4. Fluent English speaker prior to stroke
5. Right-handed prior to stroke
6. Ability to give informed consent and understand the tasks involved.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of recurrent stroke, either ischemic or hemorrhagic, in the left middle cerebral artery territory
2. Imaging unavailable
3. Large middle cerebral artery infarct involving entire inferior division (temporo-parietal) territory
4. History of dementia prior to the stroke
5. History of seizure, prior electroconvulsive therapy, deep brain stimulators, or brain surgery
6. Social and/or personal circumstances that interfere with ability to return for therapy and assessment sessions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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2 participants in 2 patient groups

Anodal tDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Anodal tDCS over the left posterior language areas during aphasia therapy for 8 one-hour sessions

Treatment:

Device: Anodal tDCS

Behavioral: Aphasia therapy

Sham tDCS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Sham tDCS over the left posterior language areas during aphasia therapy for 8 one-hour sessions

Treatment:

Device: Sham tDCS

Behavioral: Aphasia therapy