Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Chronic Daily Headaches: An Experimental Single Case Report with a Novel Protocol

Abstract

Chronic daily headaches are often refractory to prescribed or non-prescribed medications. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a new technological-based intervention with various modes of applicability. Therefore, we aimed to study the effectiveness of tDCS in an individual with symptoms of chronic daily headaches and the associated comorbidities like depression, anxiety, stress, and RLS or sleepiness, numbness, a sensation of fullness, or ringing in the ears. Based on DASS-21 and Epworth questionnaires, headache diary, and semi-structured interviews, we used repeated measures for assessing the symptoms such as frequency, duration, intensity, or severity of chronic daily headaches and associated comorbidities at baseline, after tDCS-intervention, and at a 12-month follow-up. The results showed that tDCS-intervention reduced the frequency, duration, intensity, or severity of chronic daily headaches and associated symptoms after tDCS-intervention and at a 12-month follow-up.