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Slow Oscillatory Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Refractory Focal Epilepsy

NCT07684352 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 10

Last updated 2026-07-06

No results posted yet for this study

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.

Conditions

  • Refractory Focal Epilepsy

Interventions

DEVICE

Slow-oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation (so-tDCS)

1 Hz sinusoidal oscillatory current, 2 mA peak-to-peak, delivered via sponge electrodes (13.68 cm²) soaked in 0.9% saline. Cathode placed over individual epileptogenic zone (defined by MRI, FDG-PET, MEG, and scalp EEG). Reference anode placed at FP1 or FP2 (contralateral). Each session: 20 minutes with 20-second ramp-up/ramp-down. Two sessions per day, separated by a 20-minute rest period, for 14 consecutive days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
7 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-01-13
Primary Completion
2024-04-30
Completion
2024-10-31

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07684352 on ClinicalTrials.gov