RecruitingPhase 2NCT06074848

tDCS in the Management of Post-COVID Disorders

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as a Strategy for the Management of Disorders Generated by COVID-19: a Multicentric Study.

Sponsor

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Enrollment

48 participants

Start Date

Aug 25, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Long COVID

Summary

Different physical and mental morbidities such as pain, fatigue, depressed mood and cognitive impairment can be triggered by coronavirus infection. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), an easy-to-apply, non-pharmacological and safe technique, has been used to attenuate these symptoms caused by other diseases, and, therefore, it is expected that it can also attenuate them when generated by COVID-19. It is known that the persistent inflammatory state observed after COVID-19 would be related to the progression of these negative symptoms. As non-invasive brain stimulation can also attenuate acute and persistent inflammation, it can be estimated that tDCS can be a useful tool to recover immune function and reduce post-COVID-19 morbidity.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

Long COVID-19 (\>3 months)
The presence of at least one of the following symptoms, after diagnosed SARS-COV-2 infection:
Persistent pain Fatigue Depressed mood Cognitive impairment

Exclusion Criteria6

Hemodynamic instability
Historic of use or abuse of drugs or alcohol
Use of medications that may interfere with the study results (anti-inflammatories and antibiotics)
Metallic implant in skull and face
Implant in the central nervous system
Pacemaker

Interventions

DEVICETranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS deliver low-intensity electrical currents (2 mA) through electrodes placed on the scalp. It is used to influence brain function, modulating the neuronal activity in specific areas, in a non-invasive way, as the stimulation may not be perceived sensorially due to the low intensity. In some cases, it can provide mild tingling and bring minimal discomfort. It has the ability to increase or decrease the cortical excitability of neurons, influencing the polarization of neuronal membranes, with the anodal pole (positive) facilitating depolarization that results in increased neuronal excitability in the area, and the cathodal pole (negative) promoting a hyperpolarization of the neuronal resting membrane potential that reduces cortical excitability, used to inhibit activity in a particular cortical area.

BEHAVIORALMotor Training

Motor training will be performed on the treadmill with the speed respecting the limits of the patient's maximum heart rate. To determine the maximum heart rate, the calculation must be performed: maximum heart rate = 208 - (0.7\*age). For participants who use beta-blockers, the following formula will be used: maximum heart rate = 164 - (0.7\*age). Just for the arms of fatigue and pain.

BEHAVIORALCognitive Training

an n-Back task will be performed online at PsyToolkit (https://www.psytoolkit.org/). Just for the arms of cognitive impairment and depressed mood.