Table 2.
Feasibility data: adherence and adverse events
| Participant ID | Randomization group | Rate of at-home adherence with use of tDCS during MBSR practice† | Number of MBSR classes attended (maximum: 10) | Any AE reported? (Y/N) | Specific AEs reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS | |||||
| 2 | 0% | 10 | N | — | |
| 4 | 81% | 8 | Y | Burning sensation under electrode | |
| 6 | 85% | 9 | Y | Redness, tingling, burning sensation on scalp, worsening of depression, fatigue, headache, stiffness in neck, fall | |
| 10 | 88% | 7 | N | — | |
| 11 | 85% | 9 | N | — | |
| 12 | 79% | 9 | Y | Fell asleep | |
| 15 | 62% | 10 | Y | Tingling, painful sensation on scalp, minor discomfort on scalp | |
| 17 | 0%a | 1 | Y | Dizziness, headache, painful sensation on scalp | |
| 19 | 10% | 4 | Y | Itchiness of scalp | |
| 21 | 7% | 3 | N | — | |
| 24 | 51% | 9 | Y | Redness | |
| 25 | 97%b | 7 | N | — | |
| Mean | 54% | 7.2 | 7/12 | ||
| Sham tDCS | |||||
| 1 | 87% | 10 | Y | Worsening of depression | |
| 3 | 83% | 6 | N | — | |
| 5 | 34% | 6 | N | — | |
| 7 | 91% | 5 | Y | Fogginess, worsening of depression, tingling on scalp, redness on scalp, difficulty sleeping | |
| 8 | 50% | 9 | Y | Tingling and burning sensation under electrodes | |
| 9 | 35%c | 4 | N | — | |
| 13 | 29% | 4 | N | — | |
| 14 | 40% | 6 | Y | Tingling on scalp, headache | |
| 16 | 59% | 9 | Y | Tingling on scalp, shocks | |
| 18 | 38% | 9 | Y | Pressure at temples, headache, falling asleep | |
| 20 | 28% | 3 | N | — | |
| 22 | 11% | 8 | N | — | |
| 23 | 77% | 9 | Y | Tingling on scalp | |
| 26 | 46% | 8 | Y | Tingling on scalp | |
| Mean | 54% | 6.9 | 8/14 |
† Rate of adherence defined as the total number of sessions of combined MBSR + tDCS completed at home, divided by the total number of sessions that could have been completed while they were in the study
aDropped out of study after MBSR class1; rate of adherence is for the time they were in the intervention
bDropped out of study after MBSR class 7; rate of adherence is for the time they were in the intervention
cDropped out of study after MBSR class 5; rate of adherence is for the time they were in the intervention
AE, adverse event