Abstract Details

Title Remotely Supervised tDCS for Persistent Post-Traumatic Headache in Veterans (ReStore)

Topic Neuro Trauma and Critical Care

Presentation(s) P7 - Poster Session 7 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 9-004

Objective Evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a remotely supervised transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (RS-tDCS) intervention for persistent post-traumatic headache (PPTH) secondary to mild TBI (mTBI).

Background NA

Design/Methods Veterans with PPTH completed a 28-day baseline observation of headache days and received either active or sham RS-tDCS paired with mindfulness meditation. This 4-week intervention of 20-minutes daily (M-F) at home RS-tDCS was monitored via VA Video Connect. Feasibility was determined by the number of participants completing at least 80% of the intervention. Preliminary efficacy was measured by changes in number of moderate/severe headache days from baseline period to the end of treatment phase, and to at a 4-week post-treatment follow-up. Secondary endpoints included total number of headache days, acute pain medication use, as well as headache- and mTBI-related disability.

Results Twenty-six veterans (46.6±8.7 years) with PPTH completed baseline observations and were randomized to either active (n=13) or sham (n=13) treatment groups. A total of 22/26 (85%) participants fully completed either active (10/13) or sham (12/13) interventions (p=.0.59). Within-group analyses reveled significant reductions in moderate/severe headache days in the active (p=0.04) but not sham (p=0.54) groups. This resulted in a trend towards significant reductions in moderate/severe headache days in the active vs. sham groups (p = 0.07). Active participants also demonstrated a reduction in total number of headache days during treatment (p=0.04) where the sham group did not (p=0.70). This translated into a statistically significant reduction in total number of headache days during treatment for active vs. sham participants (p=0.03). No significant differences were maintained at the 4-week post-treatment follow-up (p’s>0.05).

Conclusions RS-tDCS is feasible and effective for veterans with PPTH. Findings suggest that active RS-tDCS may reduce headache frequency and improve clinical outcomes. A larger phase II study is warranted to confirm these findings and inform evaluation for clinical use.

Authors/Disclosures
Leigh E. Charvet, PhD (NYU Langone) PRESENTER	Dr. Charvet has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Charvet has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Springer Healthcare. Dr. Charvet has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for YBrain. Dr. Charvet has stock in Johnson&Johnson.
Kiersten Mangold (Arnold School of Public Health)	Miss Mangold has nothing to disclose.
Taylor M. Kagel, DO	No disclosure on file
R. Davis Moore, PhD (University of South Carolina)	Dr. Moore has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Xiao Michelle Androulakis, MD (Neurology Dept)	The institution of Dr. Androulakis has received research support from VA rehabilitation research .

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