Verum versus sham tDCS in the treatment of stroke-induced apraxia: study protocol of the randomized controlled trial RAdiCS -“Rehabilitating (stroke-induced) Apraxia with direct Current Stimulation”

Kleineberg, Nina N.; Fink, Gereon Rudolf; Richter, Monika K.; Weiss-Blankenhorn, Peter; Becker, Ingrid

doi:10.1186/s42466-020-0052-y

Journal Article

FZJ-2020-01450

Verum versus sham tDCS in the treatment of stroke-induced apraxia: study protocol of the randomized controlled trial RAdiCS -“Rehabilitating (stroke-induced) Apraxia with direct Current Stimulation”

Kleineberg, N. N.FZJ* ; Richter, M. K.FZJ* ; Becker, I. ; Weiss-Blankenhorn, P.FZJ* ; Fink, G. R. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2020
BioMed Central [London]

Neurological research and practice 2(1), 7 (2020) [10.1186/s42466-020-0052-y]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/24517 doi:10.1186/s42466-020-0052-y

Abstract: IntroductionStroke is the leading cause of acquired disability in western societies. (Motor) cognitive deficits like apraxia significantly contribute to disability after stroke, harming activities of daily living and rehabilitation outcome. To date, efficient therapeutic options for apraxia remain sparse. Thus, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted.MethodsBased on promising results of a pilot study, the on-going RAdiCS (Rehabilitating stroke-induced Apraxia with direct Current Stimulation) study is a randomized controlled trial, which follows a double-blinded (investigator and patient), two-arm parallel interventional model. It is designed to include 110 apraxic patients (as diagnosed by the Cologne Apraxia Screening, KAS) in the subacute phase after a left hemisphere (LH) stroke. The University of Cologne initiated the trial, which is conducted in two German Neurorehabilitation Centers.The study aims to evaluate the effect of anodal (versus sham) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the left posterior parietal cortex (PPC) with an intensity of 2 mA for 10 min on five consecutive days on apraxic deficits. In addition to anodal or sham tDCS, all LH stroke patients undergo a motor (cognitive) training that is performed before and after the stimulation (off-line stimulation).The primary outcome measure is the (differential) change in the overall KAS score after five daily sessions of anodal versus sham tDCS when compared to the baseline assessment before tDCS. Secondary study outcomes include further apraxia scores, aphasia severity, and measures of motor performance and disability after stroke. All outcome measures are obtained in the post-stimulation assessment as well as during follow-up (3–4 months after tDCS).

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