Clinical Trial

Slow Oscillatory Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Refractory Focal Epilepsy

Study acronym: so-tDCS-RE
Completed
View on ClinicalTrials.gov →
Summary
This pilot study evaluated whether a type of non-invasive brain stimulation called slow-oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation (so-tDCS) can reduce seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Ten patients received 14 days of so-tDCS (2 mA, 1 Hz) for 20 minutes twice daily, guided by their individual seizure focus identified by EEG and MRI. Seizure frequency and epileptiform discharges were measured before, during, and up to 8 weeks after treatment. The study also assessed safety and tolerability. Results showed that so-tDCS significantly reduced seizure frequency, with the greatest effect occurring during the first week of treatment, and the benefit was sustained during follow-up. No serious adverse events were reported. These preliminary findings suggest that so-tDCS may be a safe and effective non-invasive option for refractory focal epilepsy, but larger sham-controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy.
Trial Details
NCT Number NCT07684352
Lead Sponsor The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University
Conditions Refractory Focal Epilepsy
Enrollment 10 participants
Start Date 2024-01-13
Primary Completion 2024-04-30 (estimated)
Study Completion 2024-10-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov 2026-07-06