tDCS for the Treatment of Migraine

Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Optimized Protocol for the Treatment of Migraine

The aim of this study is to evaluate an optimized protocol of tDCS that normalize the lack of habituation and efficiency of inhibitory cortical circuits in migraine patients. For this purpose, migraineurs volunteers will undergo to optimized tDCS protocol or sham tDCS.

A randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded and parallel group trial (12 therapeutic sessions) with optimal protocol (defined in phase 1) and sham tDCS will be conducted to evaluated electrical cortical activity and pain control, number of migraine attacks and quality of life of migraine patients. Electrical cortical activity will be assessed through: (i) motor evoked potential (MEP); (ii) motor threshold (MT); (iii) short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI); (iv) intracortical facilitation (ICF); (v) phosphene threshold (PT) and (vi) visual evoked-potential (VEP-habituation). Clinical outcomes will be evaluated through: (i) headache diary; (ii) visual analog scale (VAS); (iii) Migrainde disability assessment (MIDAS); (iv) Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) and (v) World Health Organization quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL BREF).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Presented diagnostic of episodic migraine with or without aura or probably migraine with or without aura according to the criteria for diagnosis of International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-III)
• Disease duration of at least 12 months
• Without preventive medication for at least 6 months prior to initiation of treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women;
• Pacemaker;
• History of seizures;
• Metallic implants in the head;
• Patients with clinical evidence of brain injuries;
• Chronic pain associated to others diseases;
• Use of neuroleptic medications