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EpilepsyNCT02950506

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Interictal Dysfunction in Epilepsy

A study testing transcranial direct current stimulation and Cognitive Remediation Therapy in people with Epilepsy, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.

Withdrawn

Withdrawn. The study stopped before anyone enrolled.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether tDCS enhances the effect of cognitive remediation therapy on cognition and functional outcome in patients with epilepsy. There has been evidence that working memory performance is enhanced in healthy subjects. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 64 years
Conditions the study is for
Epilepsy
What is being tested?
transcranial direct current stimulation and Cognitive Remediation Therapy
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
0 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jan 2020to 1 Mar 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 64 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-64
  • Epilepsy diagnosis confirmed by the UMN Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
  • Complete seizure logs of the type in standard clinic use at the UMN Comprehensive Epilepsy Center for at least 12 weeks prior to study entry
  • Stable CNS medications for the 2 weeks prior to the initiation visit and expected to continue with current medication doses for the two weeks of the intervention
  • No diagnosis of mental retardation (IQ not less than 70) or pervasive developmental disorder
  • At least one subtest of learning and memory less than --1.5 SD
  • Sufficient spoken English so as to be able to comprehend testing procedures
  • Competent and willing to provide consent

Who cannot join

  • Occurrence of generalized convulsive status epilepticus or of complex partial status epilepticus within 1 year prior to study entry
  • Occurrence of more than 1 generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizure per month, or more than 4 complex partial (CP) seizures per week, as reported in the subject's seizure logs for 12 weeks prior to study entry
  • Occurrence of GTC seizure within 48 hours before testing
  • Any anti-epileptic medication changes or hospitalizations in the previous 4 weeks
  • Additional neurologic disorder other epilepsy and cognitive dysfunctions
  • History of metallic cranial plates, screws, or implanted devices
  • History of craniotomy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Minnesota Comprehensive Epilepsy Center(MINCEP)

    Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, 55416

Other trials in United States

About this study

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether tDCS enhances the effect of cognitive remediation therapy on cognition and functional outcome in patients with epilepsy. There has been evidence that working memory performance is enhanced in healthy subjects. Acute tDCS studies have found improvements in working memory performance in subjects with other neurological diseases. To date, there have been no published studies examining whether can enhance learning during multi-session cognitive remediation over 2 weeks in subjects with epilepsy. This study could have potential application as a non-invasive clinical intervention for interictal dysfunction in epilepsy.

Read the detailed description

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting 50 million people worldwide. Patients suffer not only from recurring seizures, but also from cognitive deficits despite adequate treatment control. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) is a therapeutic intervention that has recently shown promise in improving cognitive impairment in many neuropsychological disorders. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive method that modulates cortical excitability. It works by applying weak electrical currents to the scalp that induce acute modifications of neuronal membrane potentials, producing long-lasting changes in the bioelectric activity of underlying brain tissue. It is postulated that tDCS enhances benefit gained through cognitive remediation therapy. These interventions have yet to be combined with each other for the treatment of interictal dysfunction in patients with epilepsy. The goal of the study is to investigate whether the introduction of tDCS in addition to CRT is effective in the treatment of cognitive impairment in patients suffering from epilepsy.

Conditions
Epilepsy
Being tested
transcranial direct current stimulation, Cognitive Remediation Therapy
Keywords
Interictal, Cognitive, Dysfunction, tDCS, transcranial direct current stimulation
Medical subject headings
Epilepsy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • transcranial direct current stimulationDevice

    Also called tDCS, Starstim, Starstim Enobio, Starstim 20

    The anode will be placed over left DLPFC at F3, according to the 10-20 international system for EEG electrode placement. The cathode will be placed over the contralateral supraorbital area. They will be placed via two saline soaked electrode sponges (3 cm x 4.5 cm).After electrodes have been placed, the participants will be instructed to log into CRT software using a unique patient identifier. The CRT software that will be used will be Cogmed working memory training program (Pearson Education, Inc.)Active tDCS will be applied at a ramp-like fashion from 0 to 2mA over 10 seconds, and will be ramped down for the last 10 seconds of stimulation. Active tDCS will last 20 minutes each session. The sham procedure involves only 30 seconds of stimulation at 2mA.

  • Cognitive Remediation TherapyOther

    Also called CRT, Cogmed

    The CRT software that will be used will be Cogmed working memory training program (Pearson Education, Inc.). Cogmed is a targeted computerized training program that has been shown to improve working memory and attention. (Spencer-Smith 2015).

Study groups in NCT02950506
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active tDCSActive comparatorThere will be a total of 14 visits in the study: will complete a screening visit, an initial visit, 10 session visits with active tDCS(transcranial direct current stimulation) andcognitive remediation therapy, and follow--up visits immediately (within 5 days), 1 and 3 months after the last intervention. Subjects will be informed of their group assignment at the end of the study.
Receives: Device: transcranial direct current stimulation; Other: Cognitive Remediation Therapy
Sham tDCSSham comparatorThere will be a total of 14 visits in the study: will complete a screening visit, an initial visit, 10 session visits with sham tDCS and cognitive remediation therapy, and follow--up visits immediately (within 5 days), 1 and 3 months after the last intervention. Subjects will be informed of their group assignment at the end of the study.
Receives: Other: Cognitive Remediation Therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Cogstate Brief Battery

    The Cogstate Battery is a computerized cognitive assessment program which measures a wide

    range of cognitive functions (e.g. psychomotor speed, reaction time, working memory, divided

    attention, learning), which can be repeated with little to none observed practice effects (Falleti

    2006). All tasks within the battery were adaptations of standard neuro-psychological and

    experimental psychological tests. Time to administer requires approximately 15-20 minutes

    consists of 8 tasks in the form of card games that are presented in succession.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

  2. Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT)

    The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) is a measure of immediate auditory and verbal

    memory as well as delayed recall. Participants are given a list of 15 unrelated words repeated

    over five different trials and are asked to repeat. Another list of 15 unrelated words are given and

    the client must again repeat the original list of 15 words and then again after 30 minutes.

    Approximately 45-50 minutes is required for the procedure. (Loring et al. 2008, Strauss 2006)

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

  3. Picture Sequence Memory Test

    The Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSMT) is a measure for use in the assessment of episodic

    memory. Participants are asked to recall, in increasing length, a series of illustrated objects and

    activities that are presented in a particular order on the computer screen. The participants are

    asked to recall the sequence of pictures that is demonstrated over two learning trials. The number

    of pictures may vary depending on the age. The test takes approximately 7 minutes to administer.

    (Dikmen et al. 2014)

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

  4. Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Task

    This task measures both a participant's attention and inhibitory control. The test requires the

    participant to focus on a given arrow while inhibiting attention to other arrows surrounding it.

    (Heaton et al. 2014) Sometimes the middle stimulus is pointing in the same direction as the

    "flankers" (congruent) and sometimes in the opposite direction (incongruent). Scoring is based

    on a combination of accuracy and reaction time. The test takes approximately 3 minutes to

    administer.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

  5. Dimensional Change Card Sort Test

    DCCS is an assessment to measure of cognitive flexibility. Two target pictures are presented that vary along two dimensions (e.g., shape and color). Participants are asked to match a series of bivalent test pictures (e.g., yellow balls and blue trucks) to the target pictures, first according to one dimension (e.g., color) and then, after a number of trials, according to the other dimension(e.g., shape). "Switch" trials are also employed, in which the participant must change the dimension being matched. For example, after 4 straight trials matching on shape,the participant may be asked to match on color on the next trial and then go back to shape, thus requiring the cognitive flexibility to quickly choose the correct stimulus. Scoring is based on a combination of accuracy and reaction time. This test takes approximately 4 minutes to administer.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Oral Symbol Digit Test

    This instrument is a measure of processing speed. (Denboer et al. 2014). The participant is presented with a set of nine symbols on the computer screen, each associated with a number 1-9, and is then presented with a series of symbols without numbers and is asked to orally say each number that should go with that symbol, without skipping any. The score is equal to the number of symbols correctly identified orally within two minutes. This takes approximately 3 minutes.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

  2. Cogstate Brief Battery

    The Cogstate Battery is a computerized cognitive assessment program which measures a wide

    range of cognitive functions (e.g. psychomotor speed, reaction time, working memory, divided

    attention, learning), which can be repeated with little to none observed practice effects (Falleti

    2006). All tasks within the battery were adaptations of standard neuro-psychological and

    experimental psychological tests. Time to administer requires approximately 15-20 minutes

    consists of 8 tasks in the form of card games that are presented in succession.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

  3. Quality of Life

    To asses quality of life the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 will be administered.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Nov 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start1 Jan 2020
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2020
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2020

Why it stopped: Lack of resources

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
0 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02950506
Sponsor's protocol ID
CTSI24219
Status last verified
Jan 2022
First submitted
10 Aug 2016
Last updated
18 Jan 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No: There is currently no plan to make individual participant data available.

Publications

  • Andrews SC, Hoy KE, Enticott PG, Daskalakis ZJ, Fitzgerald PB. Improving working memory: the effect of combining cognitive activity and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Brain Stimul. 2011 Apr;4(2):84-9. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2010.06.004. Epub 2010 Jul 11.

    PubMed 21511208
  • Benedict, Ralph H B, David Schretlen, Lowell Groninger, and Jason Brandt. 1998. "Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised: Normative Data and Analysis of Inter-Form and Test-Retest Reliability." The Clinical Neuropsychologist 12 (1): 43-55.

  • Benson N, Hulac DM, Kranzler JH. Independent examination of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV): what does the WAIS-IV measure? Psychol Assess. 2010 Mar;22(1):121-30. doi: 10.1037/a0017767.

    PubMed 20230158
  • Boggio PS, Ferrucci R, Rigonatti SP, Covre P, Nitsche M, Pascual-Leone A, Fregni F. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on working memory in patients with Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Sci. 2006 Nov 1;249(1):31-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2006.05.062. Epub 2006 Jul 14.

    PubMed 16843494
  • Brandt, J. & Benedict, R. (2001). Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised: Professional Manual. PAR: Florida

  • Brunelin J, Mondino M, Haesebaert F, Saoud M, Suaud-Chagny MF, Poulet E. Efficacy and safety of bifocal tDCS as an interventional treatment for refractory schizophrenia. Brain Stimul. 2012 Jul;5(3):431-432. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.03.010. Epub 2011 Apr 24. No abstract available.

    PubMed 22037120
  • Brunoni AR, Amadera J, Berbel B, Volz MS, Rizzerio BG, Fregni F. A systematic review on reporting and assessment of adverse effects associated with transcranial direct current stimulation. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2011 Sep;14(8):1133-45. doi: 10.1017/S1461145710001690. Epub 2011 Feb 15.

    PubMed 21320389
  • Cramer JA, Perrine K, Devinsky O, Bryant-Comstock L, Meador K, Hermann B. Development and cross-cultural translations of a 31-item quality of life in epilepsy inventory. Epilepsia. 1998 Jan;39(1):81-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01278.x.

    PubMed 9578017
  • Del Felice A, Magalini A, Masiero S. Slow-oscillatory Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Memory in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy by Altering Sleep Spindle Generators: A Possible Rehabilitation Tool. Brain Stimul. 2015 May-Jun;8(3):567-73. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2015.01.410. Epub 2015 Jan 30.

    PubMed 25862600
  • Denboer, John W, Christopher Nicholls, Corrine Corte, and Kali Chestnut. 2014. "National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery." Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology: The Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists, August. doi:10.1093/arclin/acu033.

  • Dikmen SS, Bauer PJ, Weintraub S, Mungas D, Slotkin J, Beaumont JL, Gershon R, Temkin NR, Heaton RK. Measuring episodic memory across the lifespan: NIH Toolbox Picture Sequence Memory Test. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2014 Jul;20(6):611-9. doi: 10.1017/S1355617714000460. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

    PubMed 24960230
  • Engelberts NH, Klein M, Ader HJ, Heimans JJ, Trenite DG, van der Ploeg HM. The effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for attention deficits in focal seizures: a randomized controlled study. Epilepsia. 2002 Jun;43(6):587-95. doi: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2002.29401.x.

    PubMed 12060017
  • Falleti MG, Maruff P, Collie A, Darby DG. Practice effects associated with the repeated assessment of cognitive function using the CogState battery at 10-minute, one week and one month test-retest intervals. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2006 Oct;28(7):1095-112. doi: 10.1080/13803390500205718.

    PubMed 16840238
  • Fregni F, Thome-Souza S, Nitsche MA, Freedman SD, Valente KD, Pascual-Leone A. A controlled clinical trial of cathodal DC polarization in patients with refractory epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2006 Feb;47(2):335-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00426.x.

    PubMed 16499758
  • Fregni F, Boggio PS, Nitsche M, Bermpohl F, Antal A, Feredoes E, Marcolin MA, Rigonatti SP, Silva MT, Paulus W, Pascual-Leone A. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of prefrontal cortex enhances working memory. Exp Brain Res. 2005 Sep;166(1):23-30. doi: 10.1007/s00221-005-2334-6. Epub 2005 Jul 6.

    PubMed 15999258

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing transcranial direct current stimulation and Cognitive Remediation Therapy in people with Epilepsy, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Jan 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Cogstate Brief Battery (time frame: Change from baseline to 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after last intervention visit.). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02950506, which also lists 38 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Jan 2022.

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