Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Acute Anxiety Induced by Stressful Life Events: A Pilot Study (OptesStressP)

University of Eastern Finland

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Anxiety

Treatments: Device: NeuroConn DC Stimulator Plus tDCS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02320370

OptES-Stress-pilot

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators examine the efficacy of two different transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulation protocols in the treatment of acute anxiety in an open-label pilot study in patients who have faced severely stressful life events.

Full description

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a novel neuromodulation method that has been observed to be promising in treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression. Nevertheless, knowledge related to the treatment of psychological stress and its main symptom, anxiety, is very scarce. The investigators examine the efficacy of two different transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulation protocols in the treatment of acute anxiety in an open-label pilot study in patients who have faced severely stressful life events.

Enrollment: 14 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-65 years
• Naïve to tDCS
• Right-handed
• Impact of Event Scale Scores ≥ 30

Exclusion criteria

• Metal implants inside skull or eye
• Severe skin lesions at the electrode placement area
• History of epilepsy or previous seizures
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Pacemaker
• History of intracerebral bleeding during the past six months
• Major psychiatric conditions according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders, i.e., Lifetime diagnoses of bipolar mood disorder or psychotic disorder
• DSM-IV diagnosis for one or more of the following conditions during the past six months: unipolar mood disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or substance dependence/abuse.
• Use of psychotropic medication (i.e., antipsychotic and antidepressant medications, mood stabilizers, psychostimulants, hypnotics and tranquilizers) during the past six months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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14 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment 1

Experimental group

Description:

NeuroConn DC Stimulator Plus tDCS treatment protocol no 1

Treatment:

Device: NeuroConn DC Stimulator Plus tDCS

Treatment 2

Experimental group

Description:

NeuroConn DC Stimulator Plus tDCS treatment protocol no 1

Treatment:

Device: NeuroConn DC Stimulator Plus tDCS