Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38790436›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2024

Temporal Dynamics of Adverse Effects across Five Sessions of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.

Miguel Delicado-Miralles, Laura Flix-Diez, Francisco Gurdiel-Álvarez, Enrique Velasco, María Galán-Calle, Sergio Lerma Lara

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Miguel Delicado-MirallesDepartment of Pathology and Surgery, Center for Translational Research in Physiotherapy, Miguel Hernández University, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-5181-6742
Laura Flix-DiezPhysiotherapy Faculty, Universidad de Valencia (UV), 46010 Valencia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-8462-6670
Francisco Gurdiel-ÁlvarezDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine University of Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain.
Enrique VelascoLaboratory of Ion Channel Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-7299-0750
María Galán-CalleHealth Sciences Faculty, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28023 Madrid, Spain.
Sergio Lerma LaraHealth Sciences Faculty, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28023 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9382-3855

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

(1) Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe intervention, only producing mild and transient adverse effects (AEs). However, there is no detailed analysis of the pattern of adverse effects in an application transferable to the clinic. Therefore, our objective is to describe the AEs produced by tDCS and its temporal evolution. (2) Methods: A total of 33 young volunteers were randomized into a tDCS or sham group. Participants performed a hand dexterity task while receiving the tDCS or sham intervention (20 min and 1 mA), for five consecutive days. AEs were assessed daily after each intervention and classified as somatosensory, pain, or other effects. (3) Results: The number of AEs was generally increased by tDCS intervention. Specifically, tDCS led to more frequent somatosensory discomfort, characterized by sensations like itching and tingling, alongside painful sensations such as burning, compared to the sham intervention. Additionally, certain adverse events, including neck and arm pain, as well as dizziness and blurry vision, were exclusive to the tDCS group. Interestingly, tDCS produced similar AEs across the days; meanwhile, the somatosensory AEs in the sham group showed a trend to decrease. (4) Conclusions: tDCS produces mild and temporary somatosensory and pain AEs during and across sessions. The different evolution of the AEs between the tDCS and sham protocol could unmask the blinding protocol most used in tDCS studies. Potential solutions for improving blinding protocols for future studies are discussed.

Indexed as

adverse effectsadverse effects’ temporal evolutionbilateral transcranial direct current stimulation (bi-tDCS)blinding protocolpatient safetytranscranial stimulation

Identifiers

PMID38790436
PMCPMC11118034

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.