Treatment of chronic fatigue by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Intervention with tDCS in chronic fatigue, a randomized controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN42784463

Enrollment

Registered

2025-11-19

Start date

2024-05-02

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-01-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Nervous System Diseases

Interventions

The study was conducted in addition to the unit’s treatment-as-usual (TAU). It was a prospective, comparative, blinded study. Patients were randomized (by sealed envelopes, in groups of 10 patients) t

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ICD-10: G93.3) or similar prolonged fatigue (R68.88) were recruited from the HUS Outpatient Unit for Persistent Symptom Rehabilitation (functional disorders). 2. Fatigue symptoms had: 2.1. Persisted continuously for at least six months. 2.2. Caused a decline in functional capacity affecting work or study ability.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Psychotic symptoms 2. Suicidal risk 3. Pregnancy 4. Substance use disorder 5. Metal implants in the head 6. Pacemaker 7. Acute skin conditions at the stimulation site

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Fatigue measured using Chalder at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Stress is measured using CORE-10 at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 2. Functional capacity is measured using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 3. Depression is measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 4. Anxiety is measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 5. Quality of life is measured using EuroHIS-8 at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 6. Quality of life is measured using WHODAS 2.0 at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 7. Health-related quality of life is measured using 15D at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Stress is measured using CORE-10 at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 2. Functional capacity is measured using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 3. Depression is measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 4. Anxiety is measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 5. Quality of life is measured using EuroHIS-8 at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 6. Quality of life is measured using WHODAS 2.0 at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months 7. Health-related quality of life is measured using 15D at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months

—

Countries

Finland

Contacts

Public ContactKirsi Riihimäki

kirsi.riihimaki@hus.fi+358 400645883

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026