tDCS for Epilepsy: Impact on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Author

Shahin Azmoodeh, Esmaeil Soleimani and Ali Issazadegan

Published Date: July 2021

Journal Name: Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

This randomized clinical trial investigates the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with epilepsy. Thirty patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving tDCS or a control group. The study used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to measure psychological changes pre-and post-intervention. The findings revealed that tDCS significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress compared to the control group, highlighting tDCS as a promising non-invasive treatment for psychological comorbidities in epilepsy.

Key Concepts

• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): A non-invasive brain stimulation technique using low-intensity electrical currents to modulate neuronal activity, potentially improving psychological conditions.

• Epilepsy: A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, often accompanied by psychological comorbidities like depression and anxiety.

• DASS-21: A self-report questionnaire assessing depression, anxiety, and stress levels, used to evaluate the psychological impact of tDCS in this study.

• Literature Review: Previous studies have demonstrated tDCS’s efficacy in treating various psychological disorders, but its specific effects on patients with epilepsy have been underexplored until now.

Procedure Highlights - Research Methodology

1. Study Design: A randomized clinical trial with a pretest-posttest control group design.

2. Participants: 30 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, were randomly assigned to either the tDCS intervention group or the control group.

3. tDCS Intervention: The intervention group received 10 sessions of 1.5 mA tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 20 minutes each. The anode was placed at the F3 region, and the cathode at the F4 region. The control group did not receive actual stimulation.

4. Outcome Measures: Depression, anxiety, and stress levels were measured using the DASS-21 before and after the intervention.

Results - Findings of the Research

• Depression: The tDCS group showed a significant reduction in depression scores from the pretest to the posttest, with a mean decrease of 7.47 points on the DASS-21 scale, compared to the control group.

• Anxiety: Anxiety scores also significantly decreased in the tDCS group, with a mean reduction of 7.40 points, while the control group showed no significant change.

• Stress: The stress levels in the tDCS group were significantly reduced, with a mean decrease of 8.13 points, highlighting the effectiveness of tDCS in alleviating stress in patients with epilepsy.

Discussion and Conclusion of the Research

The study concludes that tDCS is an effective intervention for reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with epilepsy. The reduction in psychological symptoms suggests that tDCS can be a valuable tool in managing the psychological comorbidities associated with epilepsy. The authors recommend further studies with larger sample sizes and follow-up periods to assess the long-term effects of tDCS. The findings support the integration of tDCS into treatment plans for epilepsy patients with significant psychological burdens.

Link to the Original Paper

The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Epilepsy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Author Information

• Shahin Azmoodeh: Department of Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

• Esmaeil Soleimani: Department of Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

• Ali Issazadegan: Department of Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

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