A Scoping Review on the Use of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques for Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Current treatments for persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) offer limited efficacy.
• Neuromodulation techniques are emerging for PPCS, but optimal parameters and effectiveness are debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of controlled studies on non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) for adults with PPCS.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of NIBS techniques in managing PPCS.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed and ScienceDirect.
• Included studies focused on controlled trials of NIBS in adult PPCS patients.

Main Results:

• Five studies involving 103 patients met the inclusion criteria.
• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) showed improvements in cognitive functions.
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) demonstrated reductions in headache intensity and depression scores.

Conclusions:

• Pilot studies suggest rTMS and tDCS hold promise for PPCS management.
• Larger-scale studies with standardized protocols are necessary to optimize treatment outcomes for PPCS.