Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Occipital cortex in Episodic Migraine: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Crossover Study
by
Rechdi Ahdab 1,2,3,†, Anthony G. Mansour 2,3,4,†, Georges Khazen 2,5, Christelle El-Khoury 2,6
, Toni M. Sabbouh 7, Maher Salem 2, Wissam Yamak 1,2,3, Samar S. Ayache 8,9 and Naji Riachi 1,2,*
Rechdi Ahdab 1,2,3,†, Anthony G. Mansour 2,3,4,†, Georges Khazen 2,5, Christelle El-Khoury 2,6, Toni M. Sabbouh 7, Maher Salem 2, Wissam Yamak 1,2,3, Samar S. Ayache 8,9 and Naji Riachi 1,2,*
1
Division of Neurology, Lebanese American University Medical Center Rizk Hospital, Beirut 113288, Lebanon
2
Division of Neurology, Gilbert and Rose Mary Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos 4504, Lebanon
3
Division of Neurology, Hamidy Medical center, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon
4
Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
5
Computer Science and Mathematics Department, Lebanese American University, Byblos 4504, Lebanon
6
Division of Family Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center Rizk Hospital, Beirut 113288, Lebanon
7
Department of Internal Medicine, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
8
Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique- Hôpitaux de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France
9
EA 4391, Excitabilité Nerveuse et Thérapeutique, Université Paris-Est-Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9010060
Received: 8 December 2019 / Revised: 19 December 2019 / Accepted: 20 December 2019 / Published: 26 December 2019
(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Neurology)
Summary: Three consecutive daily sessions of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was sufficient to show a significant decrease in headache duration and intensity as well as tablets consumption, in patients suffering from episodic migraine. Background: Migraine prophylaxis is recommended in patients with frequent and/or intense headaches, but poor tolerability and lack of efficacy of preventive drugs are common in clinical practice. Hence, new prophylactic strategies are needed. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS in terms of migraine prophylaxis. Methods: This was a double blind and sham-controlled trial. Forty-two migraine patients were randomly assigned in a crossover design to receive three consecutive daily sessions of both sham and cathodal tDCS stimulation (2.0 mA, 20 min) over the occipital cortex of the dominant side of the migraine pain (O1/O2). Migraine duration and intensity, number of analgesic tablets, and number of headache-free days (where no headache abortive medications are taken) were recorded one week before and two weeks after treatment. A washout period of one week was allowed before crossing to the other treatment arm. Results: Relative to sham, cathodal stimulation was associated with a significant reduction in the number of headache days, tablets consumption, and pain intensity; and a significant increase in the number of headache-free days. These beneficial effects were sustained over two weeks. No serious side effects were observed, and the procedure was well tolerated. Conclusion: Based on these findings, cathodal tDCS applied to the occipital cortex seems to be an effective and well tolerated alternative to pharmacotherapy in patients with episodic migraine.
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Keywords:
cathodal tDCS; migraine; occipital cortex; pain; tablets
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MDPI and ACS Style
Ahdab, R.; Mansour, A.G.; Khazen, G.; El-Khoury, C.; Sabbouh, T.M.; Salem, M.; Yamak, W.; Ayache, S.S.; Riachi, N. Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Occipital cortex in Episodic Migraine: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Crossover Study. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 60.
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