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Published on: January 5, 2024
Effects of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Condition on Anxiety Symptoms: A
Daniela Kroll1,2, Rainer Gloeckl1,2, Tessa Schneeberger1,2
1Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Philipps-University of Marburg, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany.
Introduction:
People with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) suffer from a wide range of symptoms, including anxiety. Studies have already shown that cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) has a positive effect on anxiety in anxious people. This randomised, controlled, double-blind, single-centre pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of CES as an adjunctive therapy during rehabilitation on anxiety symptoms in people with PCC.
Methods:
Adults with PCC were randomised to an intervention group with rehabilitation and CES (100 μA) or a control group with rehabilitation and sham stimulation. CES was applied via electrodes to the earlobes for 60 min daily for 3 weeks. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score was collected at baseline and at discharge.
Results:
Forty people with PCC completed the trial. We found that both groups with (n = 20) and without CES (n = 20) improved significantly in terms of change in the BAI score (CESgroup: p = 0.037; shamgroup: p = 0.018), with no difference between groups (p = 0.82). In a subgroup analysis of anxious patients only (BAI: ≥16 points, baseline score), both groups (CESanxious: n = 10, shamanxious: n = 10) significantly improved the BAI score (CESanxious: p = 0.008; shamanxious: p = 0.002) with no difference between groups (p = 0.69).
Conclusion:
This study suggests that CES had no additional benefit on anxiety symptoms during rehabilitation in people with PCC.
