Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
60-Hz frequency effect on gait in Parkinson's disease with subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation.
Gait dysfunction is common in advancing Parkinson's disease and has a disappointing response to dopamine replacement and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation programming parameters. Low-frequency stimulation, less than 130 Hz in combination with increased voltage, has been shown to decrease freezing episodes and number of steps with little impact on overall performance measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. This was in the setting of delivering the same total energy, which required both a change in voltage and frequency. We wanted to determine if the benefit came from low frequency alone. ⋯ We were unable to demonstrate improved gait with lower frequency stimulation as suggested by prior studies. This may have been because of the decreased energy delivered from the lower frequency and unchanged voltage.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of two or less missing treatment sessions on tDCS clinical efficacy: results from a factorial, randomized, controlled trial in major depression.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory intervention with recent clinical trials showing promising results in major depression treatment. Although tDCS has some appealing characteristics (e.g., low cost, ease of use, and relatively benign profile of adverse effects), one important drawback of the technique is the need to deliver consecutive, repeated sessions for several weekdays. However, no study investigated whether absences during this acute treatment phase impact on tDCS efficacy, and, if so, whether absences should be considered dropouts, therefore increasing attrition. ⋯ Absences during the acute tDCS treatment phase are common, which support the use of flexible schedules in future tDCS trials as to minimize attrition. Also, further studies should access whether higher number of absences can compromise optimal tDCS efficacy.