Comparison 3.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
| Outcome or subgroup title | No. of studies | No. of participants | Statistical method | Effect size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Pain: short‐term follow‐up | 26 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.43 [‐0.63, ‐0.22] | |
| 1.1 Single‐dose studies | 4 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.18 [‐0.38, 0.02] | |
| 1.2 Multiple‐dose studies | 22 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.51 [‐0.77, ‐0.25] | |
| 2 Pain: short‐term sensitivity analysis: correlation increased | 26 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.43 [‐0.62, ‐0.23] | |
| 3 Pain: short‐term sensitivity analysis: correlation decreased | 26 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.44 [‐0.64, ‐0.23] | |
| 4 Pain: short term sensitivity analysis, inclusion of high risk of bias studies | 31 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.48 [‐0.67, ‐0.29] | |
| 4.1 Single‐dose studies | 4 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.18 [‐0.38, 0.02] | |
| 4.2 Multiple‐dose studies | 27 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.56 [‐0.79, ‐0.32] | |
| 5 Pain: short‐term follow‐up, subgroup analysis: motor cortex studies only | 25 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.47 [‐0.67, ‐0.28] | |
| 5.1 Single‐dose studies | 4 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.18 [‐0.38, 0.02] | |
| 5.2 Multiple‐dose studies | 21 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.58 [‐0.84, ‐0.33] | |
| 6 Pain: short‐term follow‐up, subgroup analysis: motor cortex studies only, sensitivity analysis: correlation increased | 26 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.45 [‐0.64, ‐0.26] | |
| 6.1 Single‐dose studies | 4 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.18 [‐0.37, 0.01] | |
| 6.2 Multiple‐dose studies | 22 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.55 [‐0.81, ‐0.30] | |
| 7 Pain: short‐term follow‐up, subgroup analysis: motor cortex studies only, sensitivity analysis: correlation decreased | 26 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.40 [‐0.58, ‐0.22] | |
| 7.1 Single‐dose studies | 4 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.18 [‐0.38, 0.03] | |
| 7.2 Multiple‐dose studies | 22 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.49 [‐0.72, ‐0.26] | |
| 8 Pain: short‐term follow‐up, subgroup analysis, neuropathic and non neuropathic pain | 25 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.37 [‐0.56, ‐0.19] | |
| 8.1 Neuropathic | 9 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.26 [‐0.53, 0.01] | |
| 8.2 Non neuropathic | 16 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.42 [‐0.67, ‐0.17] | |
| 9 Pain: short term follow‐up responder analysis 30% pain reduction | 2 | Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 10 Pain: short term follow‐up responder analysis 50% pain reduction | 2 | Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 11 Pain: medium‐term follow‐up | 14 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.43 [‐0.72, ‐0.13] | |
| 12 Pain: medium term follow‐up responder analysis 30% pain reduction | 1 | Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 13 Pain: medium term follow‐up responder analysis 50% pain reduction | 2 | Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 14 Sensitivity analysis ‐ inclusion of high risk of bias studies. Pain: medium‐term follow‐up | 16 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.45 [‐0.72, ‐0.18] | |
| 15 Pain: long‐term follow‐up | 3 | Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.01 [‐0.43, 0.41] | |
| 16 Disability: short‐term follow‐up | 4 | 212 | Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | ‐0.01 [‐0.28, 0.26] |
| 17 Disability: medium‐term follow‐up | 1 | Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | Subtotals only | |
| 18 Quality of life: short‐term follow‐up | 4 | 82 | Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | 0.66 [0.21, 1.11] |
| 19 Quality of life: medium‐term follow‐up | 3 | 87 | Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) | 0.34 [‐0.09, 0.76] |