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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Aug 1;26(9):1698-702.
doi: 10.1002/mds.23691. Epub 2011 Apr 14.

Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of focal hand dystonia

David H Benninger  1 , Mikhail Lomarev, Grisel Lopez, Natassja Pal, David A Luckenbaugh, Mark Hallett
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of focal hand dystonia

David H Benninger et al. Mov Disord. .

Abstract

The treatment of writer's cramp, a task-specific focal hand dystonia, needs new approaches. A deficiency of inhibition in the motor cortex might cause writer's cramp. Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates cortical excitability and may provide a therapeutic alternative. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, we investigated the efficacy of cathodal stimulation of the contralateral motor cortex in 3 sessions in 1 week. Assessment over a 2-week period included clinical scales, subjective ratings, kinematic handwriting analysis, and neurophysiological evaluation. Twelve patients with unilateral dystonic writer's cramp were investigated; 6 received transcranial direct current and 6 sham stimulation. Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation had no favorable effects on clinical scales and failed to restore normal handwriting kinematics and cortical inhibition. Subjective worsening remained unexplained, leading to premature study termination. Repeated sessions of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex yielded no favorable results supporting a therapeutic potential in writer's cramp.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of patients with Writer’s Cramp (WC) enrolled in this therapeutic study (http://www.consort-statement.org).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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