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A randomized, double‐blind trial of transcranial electrostimulation in early Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Shill Holly A.,
Obradov Sanja,
Katsnelson Yakov,
Pizinger Ray
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.23591
Subject(s) - parkinson's disease , rating scale , epworth sleepiness scale , depression (economics) , placebo , anxiety , physical therapy , medicine , deep brain stimulation , psychology , adverse effect , randomized controlled trial , physical medicine and rehabilitation , disease , psychiatry , electroencephalography , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics , polysomnography
We studied the effects of noninvasive transcranial electrical stimulation on the motor and psychological symptoms of early Parkinson's disease. Twenty‐three subjects were treated with 10 days of placebo versus active treatment and then followed for 14 weeks. Baseline off medication Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale parts I–III was 29.4 ± 10.0. The primary end point, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale in week 2 following treatment, reduced by 5.3 ± 9.7 for those in active treatment and 7.7 ± 4.8 for those receiving placebo (not significant). Similarly, no significant differences were seen in the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale over the duration of the study. The treatment was well tolerated without device‐related adverse events. Despite the negative study, nonpharmacological approaches should continue to be pursued in Parkinson's disease, as they are generally well received by patients. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society