Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study
Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of personalized multichannel tDCS on seizure frequency, severity, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Secondary goals include assessing the safety and feasibility of this approach. Methods This open...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Epilepsia Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.70055 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849329468864200704 |
|---|---|
| author | Fabrice Bartolomei Maëva Daoud Megane Delourme Sophie Tardoski Julia Makhalova Eya Bourguiba Samuel Medina Villalon Stanislas Lagarde Fabrice Wendling Giulio Ruffini Ricardo Salvador Francesca Pizzo Bernard Giusiano |
| author_facet | Fabrice Bartolomei Maëva Daoud Megane Delourme Sophie Tardoski Julia Makhalova Eya Bourguiba Samuel Medina Villalon Stanislas Lagarde Fabrice Wendling Giulio Ruffini Ricardo Salvador Francesca Pizzo Bernard Giusiano |
| author_sort | Fabrice Bartolomei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of personalized multichannel tDCS on seizure frequency, severity, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Secondary goals include assessing the safety and feasibility of this approach. Methods This open‐label pilot study involved 16 patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Patients underwent 3 cycles of personalized multichannel tDCS over 6 months, targeting the EZ defined by stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG). Each cycle consisted of five consecutive days of tDCS, with two daily sessions of 20 min each. The primary endpoint was a reduction in seizure frequency, with secondary endpoints addressing quality of life (QOLIE‐31 scores), seizure severity (NHS3 scores), and psychiatric comorbidities (NDDI‐E and GAD‐7 scales). Results Across all participants, a statistically significant 20% reduction in seizure frequency was observed (p = 0.044). Six patients (37%) were identified as responders (≥50% seizure reduction), with one achieving seizure freedom. The mean seizure reduction among responders was 68%. Significant improvements were noted in overall quality of life (QOLIE‐31, p = 0.009), with greater benefits for patients with poorer baseline scores. No overall significant changes were observed in depression, anxiety, and seizure severity scores, though individual variability was noted. The treatment was well tolerated, with mild adverse events, primarily skin‐related. Significance Personalized multichannel tDCS shows promise as a noninvasive therapeutic option for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy, with benefits in seizure reduction and quality of life. Although results were variable, the method's safety and feasibility support further exploration through randomized controlled trials to refine protocols, better select potential responders' patients, and validate findings. Plain Language Summary This study tested a personalized brain stimulation technique called tDCS in people with difficult‐to‐treat epilepsy. The treatment led to fewer seizures in some patients and improved their quality of life. The approach was safe and caused only mild side effects. These results suggest that this type of noninvasive brain stimulation may be a helpful new option for people who do not benefit from medication or surgery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c74e1f2a6c54e98a6f86146f3e9bb14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2470-9239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epilepsia Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c74e1f2a6c54e98a6f86146f3e9bb142025-08-20T03:47:16ZengWileyEpilepsia Open2470-92392025-08-011041034104210.1002/epi4.70055Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled studyFabrice Bartolomei0Maëva Daoud1Megane Delourme2Sophie Tardoski3Julia Makhalova4Eya Bourguiba5Samuel Medina Villalon6Stanislas Lagarde7Fabrice Wendling8Giulio Ruffini9Ricardo Salvador10Francesca Pizzo11Bernard Giusiano12Epileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology Department APHM, Timone Hospital Marseille FranceAix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst Marseille FranceAPHM, Health Research Direction Marseille FranceAPHM, Health Research Direction Marseille FranceEpileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology Department APHM, Timone Hospital Marseille FranceAix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst Marseille FranceEpileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology Department APHM, Timone Hospital Marseille FranceEpileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology Department APHM, Timone Hospital Marseille FranceUniv Rennes, INSERM Rennes FranceNeuroelectrics Barcelona Barcelona SpainNeuroelectrics Barcelona Barcelona SpainEpileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology Department APHM, Timone Hospital Marseille FranceEpileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology Department APHM, Timone Hospital Marseille FranceAbstract Objective To evaluate the effects of personalized multichannel tDCS on seizure frequency, severity, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Secondary goals include assessing the safety and feasibility of this approach. Methods This open‐label pilot study involved 16 patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Patients underwent 3 cycles of personalized multichannel tDCS over 6 months, targeting the EZ defined by stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG). Each cycle consisted of five consecutive days of tDCS, with two daily sessions of 20 min each. The primary endpoint was a reduction in seizure frequency, with secondary endpoints addressing quality of life (QOLIE‐31 scores), seizure severity (NHS3 scores), and psychiatric comorbidities (NDDI‐E and GAD‐7 scales). Results Across all participants, a statistically significant 20% reduction in seizure frequency was observed (p = 0.044). Six patients (37%) were identified as responders (≥50% seizure reduction), with one achieving seizure freedom. The mean seizure reduction among responders was 68%. Significant improvements were noted in overall quality of life (QOLIE‐31, p = 0.009), with greater benefits for patients with poorer baseline scores. No overall significant changes were observed in depression, anxiety, and seizure severity scores, though individual variability was noted. The treatment was well tolerated, with mild adverse events, primarily skin‐related. Significance Personalized multichannel tDCS shows promise as a noninvasive therapeutic option for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy, with benefits in seizure reduction and quality of life. Although results were variable, the method's safety and feasibility support further exploration through randomized controlled trials to refine protocols, better select potential responders' patients, and validate findings. Plain Language Summary This study tested a personalized brain stimulation technique called tDCS in people with difficult‐to‐treat epilepsy. The treatment led to fewer seizures in some patients and improved their quality of life. The approach was safe and caused only mild side effects. These results suggest that this type of noninvasive brain stimulation may be a helpful new option for people who do not benefit from medication or surgery.https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.70055brain stimulationepilepsy comorbiditiesneuromodulationquality of life in epilepsyseizure reductiontDCS |
| spellingShingle | Fabrice Bartolomei Maëva Daoud Megane Delourme Sophie Tardoski Julia Makhalova Eya Bourguiba Samuel Medina Villalon Stanislas Lagarde Fabrice Wendling Giulio Ruffini Ricardo Salvador Francesca Pizzo Bernard Giusiano Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study Epilepsia Open brain stimulation epilepsy comorbidities neuromodulation quality of life in epilepsy seizure reduction tDCS |
| title | Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study |
| title_full | Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study |
| title_fullStr | Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study |
| title_short | Personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) in drug‐resistant epilepsy: A SEEG based open‐labeled study |
| title_sort | personalized multichannel transcranial direct current electrical stimulation tdcs in drug resistant epilepsy a seeg based open labeled study |
| topic | brain stimulation epilepsy comorbidities neuromodulation quality of life in epilepsy seizure reduction tDCS |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.70055 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fabricebartolomei personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT maevadaoud personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT meganedelourme personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT sophietardoski personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT juliamakhalova personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT eyabourguiba personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT samuelmedinavillalon personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT stanislaslagarde personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT fabricewendling personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT giulioruffini personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT ricardosalvador personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT francescapizzo personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy AT bernardgiusiano personalizedmultichanneltranscranialdirectcurrentelectricalstimulationtdcsindrugresistantepilepsyaseegbasedopenlabeledstudy |