Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-concussion Headaches

Launched by STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK - UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · Oct 26, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for people who have chronic headaches following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), like a concussion. rTMS is a safe, non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. The goal of the trial is to see if this treatment can help improve headaches and other symptoms that often last for months after a concussion, without the side effects that come with many medications.

To be eligible for this study, participants should be between 18 and 65 years old and must have experienced a mild concussion with specific symptoms, such as headaches that started within a week of the injury and have lasted for at least three months. They should not have a history of chronic headaches before the injury. Those who join the study can expect to receive rTMS treatment and will help researchers learn more about how to better diagnose and treat headaches after concussions. It's important to note that those with certain medical conditions or history of seizures may not qualify for the trial.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18 - 55 years old who were actively working prior to mTBI
• • mTBI with loss of consciousness for less than 30 min, initial Glasgow Coma Scale between 13 and 15, or post-traumatic amnesia for ≤ 24 hours
• • diagnosis of persistent post-traumatic headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria
• • headache develops within 7 days after head trauma
• • headache persists for \>=3 months after head trauma despite receiving standard care
• • average persistent headache intensity is \>= 3/10 of the numerical rating scale (NRS) on \>=3days/week
• • no evidence of radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy on electromyography or clinical evaluation
• • no evidence of other possible causes of headaches
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • history of chronic headache diagnoses such as migraine, tension, or cluster headaches prior to the incidence of mTBI
• • history of other neurologic conditions with medications affecting the central nervous system
• • contraindications of receiving TMS (e.g., a history of epileptic seizure and having implants like a cardiac pacemaker or intracerebral vascular clip