Table 2.
Treatment parameters of tDCS interventions for fatigue symptoms (n = 14).
| Author and year | Intervention site | Intensity (mA) | Duration | Intervention | Control | Outcome measure | Assessment timepoint | Side affect | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrucci et al. 26 | C3, C4 | 1.5 | 15 min/session, 5 sessions |
Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | FIS | Before, after, 1w after, 3w after | Two had skin reaction | A-tDCS applied at M1 improves fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Meesen et al. 29 | C3, C4 | 1 | 20 min/session, 1 session |
Active tDCS + motor training | Sham tDCS + motor training | VAS-fatigue | Before, during, 30 minutes after | / | A single session a-tDCS does not relieve fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Saiote et al. 30 | Left DLPFC | 1 | 20 min/session, 5 sessions |
Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | FSS, MSFSS, MFIS | Day 0, day 5, 8, 10, 15, 30 | / | A-tDCS of the DLPFC does not relieve fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Tecchio et al. 32 | Bilateral S1 | 1.5 | 5 sessions | Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | MFIS | Before, after, 4w after, 8w after | / | A-tDCS of bilateral somatosensory areas improves fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Tecchio et al. 31 | E1: Bilateral S1 E2: SM1 |
1.5 | 5 sessions | Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | MFIS | Before, after | No | A-tDCS of bilateral somatosensory areas improves fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Ayache et al. 39 | Left DLPFC | 2 | 3 sessions | Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | MFIS, BPI, VAS | Before, after | tDCS group: 3 headaches. sham group: 1 headache, 1 Phosphenes |
A-tDCS significantly relieves pain; no effects on mood, fatigue, or attention when compared to sham stimulation. |
| Hanken et al. 28 | Right PC | 1.5 | 20 min/session, 1 session |
ActivetDCS | Sham tDCS | VAS-fatigue | Before, after | / | A-tDCS of the right parietal cortex shows positive effects on fatigue-associated performance but does not relieve fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Chalah et al. 24 | E1: Left DLPFC E2: Right PPC |
2 | 20 min/session, 5 sessions |
Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | FSS, MFIS VAS-fatigue |
Before, after | Active right PPC: Three insomnia, 2 headaches |
A-tDCS of left DLPFC stimulation significantly ameliorates fatigue when compared to sham stimulation; a-tDCS of the right PPC improves anxiety and depression when compared to sham stimulation; no effect of any intervention on attention |
| Charvet et al. 25 | left DLPFC | 2 | 20 min/session, 20 sessions |
Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | PROMIS-FS | Before, after | Two pain patients | A-tDCS significantly reduces fatigue when compared to sham stimulation, longer treatment periods and higher stimulation intensity are of greater benefit |
| Cancelli et al. 22 | Bilateral S1 | 1.5 | 15 min/session, 5 sessions |
Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | MFIS | Before, after | Weariness, tingling | A-tDCS leads to a significant reduction in fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Fiene et al. 40 | left DLPFC | 1.5 | 27.29 ± 1.15 30 min/session, one session |
Active tDCS + reaction time task | Sham tDCS + reaction time task | VAS-fatigue | Before, after | / | A-tDCS of the left DLPFC reduces fatigue when compared to sham stimulation |
| Chalah et al. 23 | left DLPFC | 2 | 20 min/session, 5 sessions |
Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | FSS, MFIS | Before, after, 1w after | no | A-tDCS shows effects on fatigue and anxiety but not depression when compared to sham stimulation |
| Mortezanejad et al. 38 | E1: DLPFC E2: M1 |
1.5 | 20 min/session, 6 sessions | Active tDCS | Sham tDCS | FSS | Before, after, 1 month after | Tingling, itching | Both M1 and DLPFC a-tDCS show effects on fatigue when compared to sham stimulation and effects of DLPFC a-tDCS. last up to four weeks. |
| Pilloni et al. 41 | C3 | 2.5 | 20 min/session, 10 sessions | Active tDCS + physical training | Sham tDCS + physical training | MFIS-21 | Before, after, 1 month after | / | A-tDCS has immediate and long-lasting effects on walking and endurance when compared to sham stimulation |
BPI, Brief Pain Inventory; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; FIS, Fatigue Impact Scale; FSS, Fatigue Severity Scale; MFIS, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale; MSFSS, the MS-specific FSS; PC, parietal cortex; PPC, posterior parietal cortex; PROMIS-FS, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-fatigue short form; SM1, hand sensorimotor areas; VAS, Visual Analog Scale.