Long-term prophylactic efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation in chronic migraine. A randomised, patient-assessor blinded, sham-controlled trial

Objective: To assess the prophylactic effect of anodal tDCS of the left motor cortex in patients with resistant chronic migraine (CM) and its long-term maintenance.

Methods: In a patient-assessor blinded, sham-controlled trial, 36 patients were randomized to receive anodal tDCS (active group, n = 18) or sham tDCS (sham group, n = 18). The studied population was characterized by a previous failure of at least 3 classes of preventive drugs and a mean duration of migraine history of 26 years. The tDCS procedure consisted of an induction phase of 5 consecutive daily sessions (week 1) followed by a maintenance phase of 1 weekly session during the next 4 weeks and two bimonthly sessions in the next month, for a total of 11 sessions during 2 months. Anodal tDCS was delivered at 2 mA intensity for 20 min over the left motor cortex. The primary endpoint was the reduction in the monthly number of migraine attacks from baseline to each period of follow-up (months 1, 2, 3, 5) between the active and sham groups.

Results: The monthly number of migraine attacks expressed as the percentage of reduction from baseline was significantly reduced in the active versus the sham group, from the end of first month (-21% ± 22 vs. -2% ±25, p = 0.019) to the end of follow-up (3-month post-treatment) (-32% ± 33 vs. -6% ±39, p = 0.011). At this time, the rate of responders, defined as a reduction of the monthly number of migraine attacks ≥30% from baseline, was significantly higher in the active group than in the sham group (50% vs. 14%, p = 0.043).

Conclusion: Our results show a marked prophylactic effect of anodal tDCS of the left motor cortex in resistant CM extending several months after the stimulation period, and suggest that this neuromodulatory approach may be part of the prophylactic alternatives available for CM.