Attention deficits after traumatic brain injury Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Conditions
Interventions
Participants will receive the tDCS protocol, which consists of 20 minutes tDCS active stimulation three times a week for 3 weeks for a total of nine sessions. The tDCS will be applied by experienced r
Soterix Medical, New York, NY, USA). Current delivery will be monitored throughout the testing. Participants will undergo 20-minute sessions of tDCS at an intensity of 2 mA and a current density of 0,
Sponsors
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Current hospitalization 2. Age 18 years old or more 3. Diagnosis of mild complicated, moderate or severe TBI 4. Attentional impairment as per qualitative clinical assessment 5. French or English speaking 6. Tolerance to 45 to 60 minutes neuropsychology evaluation 7. Capacity to consent in accordance with the Nova Scotia Hospitals Act
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. History of neurological disease not resulting from the current TBI (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders) 2. Psychiatric illness (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders) 3. Aphasia and compromises in understanding instructions 4. Significant deafness or blindness 5. Contraindication to tDCS (e.g., seizure, extensive cranial vault lesion, pregnancy or breastfeeding, pacemaker, cochlear implants or cerebral metal implanted device or clip) 6. Scar or skull deformity at the site of electrodes placement 7. Epileptogenic medication 8. Penetrating TBI
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Tolerance, adverse effects and safety measured using a customized questionnaire adapted from those provided by Brunoni et al. at the end of each stimulation | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Selective attention measured using the Test of Everyday Attention and the Stroop from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System at baseline and after the last stimulation session 2. Sustained and selective attention measured using the Ruff 2 &7 Selective Attention Test at baseline and after the last stimulation session 3. Visual sustained attention, vigilance, impulsivity and inattentiveness measured using the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition at baseline and after the last stimulation session 4. Visual sustained attention, vigilance, impulsivity and inattentiveness measured using the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition at baseline and after the last stimulation session 5. Working memory measured using the Digit Span subtest from the Wechsler adult intelligence scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) at baseline and after the last stimulation session 6. Processing speed measured using the Coding subtests from the WAIS-IV Edition at baseline and after the last stimulation session 7. Ability to analyze and synthesize abstract visual stimuli measured using the Block Design subtest from the WAIS-IV at baseline and after the last stimulation session | — |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
Public ContactEve Boissonnault
Outcome results
None listed