Transcranial direct current stimulation for migrane

Abstract

Migraine is one of the most common primary headache disorders. Nowadays, there is an increase in the prevalence of migraine. It causes a significant reduction in the Quality of Life of those affected. There are two major approaches to treating migraines: attack management and prevention. The concept of primary prophylactic therapy of migraine has developed rapidly. In addition to standard medication, there are increasing data indicating the usefulness and feasibility of non-drug treatments, such as TES (transcranial electrical stimulation). Both cathodal and anodal stimulation have been shown to be effective in migraine treatment: after a course of TES, the number of days per month with headache decreased, the duration and intensity of migraine attacks decreased, and some studies reported a reduction in the number of medications used. O1/O2 (1–2 mA) for cathodal stimulation and F3/F4 (1–2 mA) for anodal stimulation were the most frequently stimulated cortical areas. The average duration of each session was 20 minutes. The length of TES sessions varied from study to study. TES has shown efficacy and safety in treating various forms of migraine. Using this non-invasive method to prevent attacks may be one of the directions for personalizing migraine treatment.