Hong-Xing Wang1,2,3, Li Wang4, Wen-Rui Zhang4, Qing Xue4, Mao Peng4, Zhi-Chao Sun4, Li-Ping Li4, Kun Wang5, Xiao-Tong Yang4, Yu Jia4, Qi-Lin Zhou4, Zhe-Xue Xu4, Ning Li4, Kai Dong4, Qian Zhang4, Hai-Qing Song4, Shu-Qin Zhan4, Bao-Quan Min4, Chun-Qiu Fan4, Ai-Hong Zhou4, Xiu-Hua Guo6,7, Hai-Bin Li6,7, Li-Rong Liang8, Lu Yin9, Tian-Mei Si10, Jing Huang11, Tian-Yi Yan12, Fiammetta Cosci13, Atsushi Kamiya14, Jie Lu11, Yu-Ping Wang4,15,16. 1. Division of Neuropsychiatry and Psychosomatics, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, wanghongxing@xwh.ccmu.edu.cn. 2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China, wanghongxing@xwh.ccmu.edu.cn. 3. Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, wanghongxing@xwh.ccmu.edu.cn. 4. Division of Neuropsychiatry and Psychosomatics, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 5. Department of Neurology, Beijing Puren Hospital, Beijing, China. 6. Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 7. Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 8. Department of Epidemiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 9. Medical Research and Biometrics Center, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China. 10. Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China. 11. Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 12. School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China. 13. Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 14. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 15. Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China. 16. Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Not all adults with chronic insomnia respond to the recommended therapeutic options of cognitive behavioral therapy and approved hypnotic drugs. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) may offer a novel potential treatment modality for insomnia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of tACS for treating adult patients with chronic insomnia. METHODS:Sixty-two participants with chronic primary insomnia received20 daily 40-min, 77.5-Hz, 15-mA sessions of active or sham tACS targeting the forehead and both mastoid areas in the laboratory on weekdays for 4 consecutive weeks, followed by a 4-week follow-up period. The primary outcome was response rate measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at week 8. Secondary outcomes were remission rate, insomnia severity, sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep quality, daily disturbances, and adverse events at the end of the 4-week intervention and at the 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: Of 62 randomized patients, 60 completed the trial. During the 4-week intervention, 1 subject per group withdrew due to loss of interest and time restriction, respectively. Based on PSQI, at 4-week follow-up, the active group had a higher response rate compared to the sham group (53.4% [16/30] vs. 16.7% [5/30], p = 0.009), but remission rates were not different between groups. At the end of the 4-week intervention, the active group had higher response and remission rates than the sham group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.026, respectively). During the trial, compared with the sham group, the active group showed a statistically significant decrease in PSQI total score, a shortened SOL, an increased TST, improved sleep efficiency, and improved sleep quality (p < 0.05 or p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed that, in comparison with the sham group, the active group had improved symptoms, except for daily disturbances, at the end of the 4-week intervention, and significant improvements in all symptoms at the 4-week follow-up. No adverse events or serious adverse responses occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: The findings show that the tACS applied in the present study has potential as an effective and safe intervention for chronic insomnia within 8 weeks.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Not all adults with chronic insomnia respond to the recommended therapeutic options of cognitive behavioral therapy and approved hypnotic drugs. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) may offer a novel potential treatment modality for insomnia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of tACS for treating adult patients with chronic insomnia. METHODS: Sixty-two participants with chronic primary insomnia received 20 daily 40-min, 77.5-Hz, 15-mA sessions of active or sham tACS targeting the forehead and both mastoid areas in the laboratory on weekdays for 4 consecutive weeks, followed by a 4-week follow-up period. The primary outcome was response rate measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at week 8. Secondary outcomes were remission rate, insomnia severity, sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep quality, daily disturbances, and adverse events at the end of the 4-week intervention and at the 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: Of 62 randomized patients, 60 completed the trial. During the 4-week intervention, 1 subject per group withdrew due to loss of interest and time restriction, respectively. Based on PSQI, at 4-week follow-up, the active group had a higher response rate compared to the sham group (53.4% [16/30] vs. 16.7% [5/30], p = 0.009), but remission rates were not different between groups. At the end of the 4-week intervention, the active group had higher response and remission rates than the sham group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.026, respectively). During the trial, compared with the sham group, the active group showed a statistically significant decrease in PSQI total score, a shortened SOL, an increased TST, improved sleep efficiency, and improved sleep quality (p < 0.05 or p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed that, in comparison with the sham group, the active group had improved symptoms, except for daily disturbances, at the end of the 4-week intervention, and significant improvements in all symptoms at the 4-week follow-up. No adverse events or serious adverse responses occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: The findings show that the tACS applied in the present study has potential as an effective and safe intervention for chronic insomnia within 8 weeks.