CES in the Elderly With Generalized Anxiety Disorders

The Effect of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation as Adjunctive Therapy on Anxiety Disorder in Elderly: an Open-label, Pilot Study

The study aimed to investigate whether cranial electrotherapy stimulation(CES) could benefit anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, quality of sleep and quality of life in elderly patients with anxiety disorder.

Several studies have shown cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) could decrease depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with mood disorder. However, none study so far focused on the elderly population to investigate the anti-depressant and anxiolytic effect in elderly patient with anxiety disorder. Hence, this pilot study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of CES on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, sleep quality and life quality in elderly patient with anxiety disorder. The study was an open-label, one arm study. The study aimed to investigate whether cranial electrotherapy stimulation(CES) could benefit anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, quality of sleep and quality of life in elderly patients with anxiety disorder.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 60 to 85 years old
• Anxiety disorder confirmed by Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI)
• HAM-A score greater than 17 points
• HAM-D score lower than 17 points
• Mini-mental state examination score of 24 or more
• No psychiatric medication adjustment within 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Comorbid with another axis I psychiatric disorder, like schizophrenia, substance use disorder or other major mental illness screened by Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI)
• Contraindications for CES
• Implanted brain medical devices or mental in the head
• History of seizures
• History of intracranial neoplasm or surgery
• Severe head injuries
• Cerebrovascular diseases
• Arrhythmia or with pacemaker implantation
• Used to receive brain stimulation therapy.