Social anxiety disorder: radio electric asymmetric conveyor brain stimulation versus sertraline

Abstract

PurposeSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) is a disabling condition that affects almost 5% of the general population. Many types of drugs have shown their efficacy in the treatment of SAD. There are also some data regarding psychotherapies, but no data are available today about the efficacy of brain stimulation techniques. The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of noninvasive brain stimulation neuro psycho physical optimization (NPPO) protocol performed by radio electric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) with that of sertraline in adults with SAD.Patients and methodsTwenty SAD patients on sertraline were compared with 23 SAD patients who refused any drug treatment and who chose to be treated with NPPO-REAC brain stimulation. This was a 6-month, open-label, naturalistic study. Patients on sertraline received flexible doses, whereas NPPO-REAC patients received two 18-session cycles of treatment. Clinical Global Improvement scale items “much improved” or “very much improved” and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale total score variation on fear and avoidance components were used to detect the results. The statistical analysis was performed with t-test. All measures <0.05 have been considered statistically significant.ResultsTen of 23 subjects on NPPO-REAC and six of the 20 taking sertraline were much improved or very much improved 1 month after the first NPPO-REAC cycle (t1). Sixteen of the subjects on NPPO-REAC and ten of the subjects taking sertraline were much improved or very much improved 1 month after the second NPPO-REAC cycle (t2). In respect of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, at t1 NPPO-REAC resulted in statistically more efficacy for sertraline on both fear and avoidance total scores. At t2, NPPO-REAC resulted in statistically more efficacy for sertraline on fear but not on avoidance.ConclusionNPPO-REAC is an effective treatment for SAD, allowing substantial and clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms and disability in comparison with sertraline.

Neuropsychophysical optimization by REAC technology in the treatment of: sense of stress and confusion. Psychometric evaluation in a randomized, single blind, sham-controlled naturalistic study

“…The model used in this study (Convogliatore di Radianza Modulante, ASMED, Italy) is specific for noninvasive brain stimulation techniques. REAC treatment has proved its efficacy in ameliorating several stress-related disorders,13–18 depression,18–20 anxiety,18,20 social anxiety,21 agoraphobia,22 bipolar disorders,23 some forms of dementias,24 and impaired motor control 25–27. Recently, using specific protocols, REAC technology has demonstrated the chance to induce stem cell pluripotency and differentiation 28.…”

REAC neuromodulation treatments in subjects with severe socioeconomic and cultural hardship in the Brazilian state of Par&aacute;: a family observational pilot study

“…The REAC-NPPO protocol has proven to be effective in treating stress-related symptoms, 13 – 18 such as anxiety, 19 – 21 pain, 16 depression, 19 , 20 , 22 and other psychiatric disorders 23 – 25 also related to adaptation disorder. 13 , 26 – 28 These two REAC neuro-modulation protocols are absolutely non-invasive, painless and very fast and easy to be administered.…”

<p>Radio electric asymmetric conveyer neuromodulation in depression, anxiety, and stress</p>

“…The REAC-NPO consists of a single treatment of 250 milliseconds administered on a specific area of the auricle/pavilion. The REAC-NPPO neuromodulation treatment has shown to be able to optimize and improve the coping capacity toward environmental stressors10–12,14,17–19 and be effective in various psychiatric disorders 9,13,15,16,26,29,30. The REAC-NPPO neuromodulation treatment consists of a treatment cycle of 18 sessions.…”