Effect of Repeated tDCS Sessions on Cognitive Improvement in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness (rtDCS in DOC)
Disorders of Consciousness, Severe Brain Injury, Post-comatose Non-communicative Patients
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Disorders of Consciousness
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- be in an minimally conscious state
- be chronic (more then 3 months post insult)
- stable condition
Exclusion Criteria:
- NMDA receptor inhibitor drugs
- modification of the treatment during the protocol
- illness or infection during the protocol
- pacemaker
- metallic cerebral implant
- prior neurological disorder
- tDCS or other non-invasive brain stimulation treatment less than 3months before the inclusion in the present study
Sites / Locations
- University Hospital of Liège
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Placebo Comparator
anodal stimulation
sham stimulation
Patients receive an anodal tDCS (on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) every day for 4 weeks, 5 days per week (tDCS of 2mA during 20minutes). A CRS-R is performed at baseline (before the first stimulation) and after the tDCS session. A final CRS-R is performed 8 week after the end of the session to assess the potential long term effects of tDCS.
Patients receive a sham tDCS (on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) every day for 4 weeks, 5 days per week (tDCS of 2mA during 5 secondes at the begining and the end of the stimulation to mimic the effects of tDCS). A CRS-R is performed at baseline (before the first stimulation) and after the tDCS session. A final CRS-R is performed 8 week after the end of the session to assess the potential long term effects of tDCS.