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Table 1 Summary of randomized controlled trials of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation for migraine prevention

From: Which is the best transcranial direct current stimulation protocol for migraine prevention? A systematic review and critical appraisal of randomized controlled trials

Study

N

Age range

Migraine type

Concomitant preventatives, %

Stimulation type

Electrode surface area (cm2)

Current intensity (mA)

Session duration (min)

Baseline observation (before the first tDCS session)

Follow-up (after the last tDCS session)

Ahdab, 2019 [18]

42 (cross-over)

18-60

Episodic

7

Cathodal

35

2

20

1 week

2 weeks

Andrade, 2017 [19]

6 active (M1), 3 active (DLPFC), 4 (sham)

18-65

Chronic

NR

Anodal

25

2

20

1 day

1 day

Antal, 2011 [20]

13 active, 13 sham

20-53

Episodic/chronic

0

Cathodal

35

1

15

8 weeks

8 weeks

Auvichapayat, 2012 [21]

20 active, 17 sham

18-65

Episodic

0

Anodal

35

2

20

4 weeks

12 weeks

Dalla Volta, 2020 [22]

28 active, 17 sham

18-65

Chronic, without aura

100 (topiramate)

Cathodal

35

1.5

15

NR

120 days

DaSilva, 2012 [23]

8 active, 5 sham

18-60

Chronic

NR

Anodal

35

2

20

1 week

120 days

De Icco, 2021 [24]

10 active, 10 sham

18-65

Chronic (with medication overuse)

0

Anodal

Anode: 9 Cathode: 24

2

20

1 month

6 months

Grazzi, 2020 [25]

44 active (anodal), 45 active (cathodal), 46 sham

18-65

Chronic (with medication overuse)

NR

Anodal/cathodal

35

2

20

1 month

12 months

Mansour, 2019 [26]

18 (cross-over)

18-60

Medication overuse

28

Anodal/cathodal

35

2

20

1 week

2 weeks

Pohl, 2020 [27]

11 active, 12 sham

18-80

Episodic

NR

Anodal

Anode: 35 Cathode: 100

1

20

4 weeks

4 months

Rahimi, 2020 [28]

15 active (M1), 15 active (S1), 15 sham

18-60

Episodic/chronic

0

Cathodal

Cathode: 15 Anode: 35

1

20

4 weeks

12 months

Rocha, 2015 [29]

10 active, 5 sham

18-50

Episodic/chronic

0

Cathodal

35

2

20

30 days

30 days

Wickmann, 2015 [30]

8 active, 8 sham

NR

Menstrual

0

Cathodal

35

2

20

12 weeks

12 weeks

  1. DLPFC indicates dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, M1 primary motor area, NR not reported, S1 primary somatosensory area