Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation in the Treatment of Migraine Headaches

February 2, 2015 updated by: Gretchen Tietjen, MD, University of Toledo Health Science Campus
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) may be a safe adjunct to medical treatment for pain relief in migraine patients. However, despite the number of CES studies done, many have been open label, single blinded, or have utilized a small group of patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate the efficacy of the Fisher Wallace Cranial Stimulator in persons with chronic migraine who have not achieved satisfactory pain control on their current medications.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
68

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Toledo, Ohio, United States, 43614
        • University of Toledo, Health Science Campus

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years to 61 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects satisfying the IHS (International Headache Society) criteria for migraine
  • Subjects have not achieved satisfactory pain control on their current medication
  • Ability to maintain a daily headache diary
  • Stable medication use related to migraine for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous exposure to or experience with cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES)
  • Contraindications to Fisher Wallace stimulator, such as cardiac pacemakers or implantable defibrillators, known or suspected heart disease, or pregnancy
  • Seizure disorders

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Cranial Electrostimulator
wears active cranial electrostimulation device for 20 minutes daily for 28 days
Device: Cranial Electrostimulator
participant wears active cranial electrostimulation device for 20 minutes daily for 28 days
Other Names:
  • Fisher Wallace Cranial Electrostimulator
Sham Comparator: Sham device
wears sham device for 20 minutes daily for 28 days
Device: Sham Device
participant wears sham device for 20 minutes daily for 28 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Headache Days
Time Frame: 28 day period during run-in month and blinded month
Mean change in headache days between 28 day run-in month and 28 day blinded month, i.e. run-in month mean minus blinded month mean. A good response is >= 50% reduction in headache days (congruent with the Guidelines for Trial of Behavioral Treatments for Recurrent Headache).
28 day period during run-in month and blinded month
Depression Score (PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE [PHQ] 9)
Time Frame: 14 days recall; measured at end of run-in month and blinded month
Mean difference of PHQ-9 score between the run-in month and blinded month, i.e. PHQ-9 score from run-in month minus blinded month. The PHQ-9 is a tool for assisting in diagnosing depression (over the prior 2 week period) as well as selecting and monitoring treatment. There are nine items, with responses each ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), for a total range of 0 to 27. The higher the total the more severe the depressive symptoms.
14 days recall; measured at end of run-in month and blinded month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Headache Days
Time Frame: 28 day period in run-in month and open label month
Mean change in headache days between 28 day run-in month and 28 day open label month, i.e. run-in month mean minus open label month mean. A good response is >= 50% reduction in headache days (congruent with the Guidelines for Trial of Behavioral Treatments for Recurrent Headache).
28 day period in run-in month and open label month
Depression Score (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
Time Frame: 14 day recall, recorded at the end of run-in and open label months
Mean difference of PHQ-9 score between the run-in month and open label month, i.e. PHQ-9 score from run-in month minus open label month. The PHQ-9 is a tool for assisting in diagnosing depression (over the prior 2 week period) as well as selecting and monitoring treatment. There are nine items, with responses each ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), for a total range of 0 to 27. The higher the total the more severe the depressive symptoms.
14 day recall, recorded at the end of run-in and open label months
Headache Impact Test-6
Time Frame: after run-in month, after blinded month
Mean difference in HIT-6 score between run-in month and blinded month. The HIT-6 is a tool for screening and monitoring change in headache disability. This disease-specific health survey is intended for adults 18 years of age and older, and is available with a standard four-week recall period. It is a 6 item questionnaire with scores for each item ranging from 6 (never) to 13 (always). The minimum overall score is 36 and the maximum is 78. Higher scores represent greater disability.
after run-in month, after blinded month
Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) (Measure of Disability Due to Headaches)
Time Frame: 28 day period in run-in month and open label month
Mean difference in HIT-6 score between run-in month and open label month. The HIT-6 is a tool for screening and monitoring change in headache disability. This disease-specific health survey is intended for adults 18 years of age and older, and is available with a standard four-week recall period. It is a 6 item questionnaire with scores for each item ranging from 6 (never) to 13 (always). The minimum overall score is 36 and the maximum is 78. Higher scores represent greater disability.
28 day period in run-in month and open label month
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Score (GAD 7)
Time Frame: 14 days recall; measured at end of run-in month and blinded month
Mean difference in GAD 7 score between run-in month and blinded month. This is a screening tool and severity measure for generalized anxiety disorder addressing symptoms over the prior 2 weeks. It is a 7 item questionnaire with response scores for each item ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (every day). The range for the total score is 0 to 21, with higher scores representing greater symptoms of anxiety
14 days recall; measured at end of run-in month and blinded month
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Score (GAD 7)
Time Frame: 14 day recall, recorded at the end of run-in and open label months
Mean difference in GAD 7 score between run-in month and open label month. This is a screening tool and severity measure for generalized anxiety disorder addressing symptoms over the prior 2 weeks. It is a 7 item questionnaire with response scores for each item ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (every day). The range for the total score is 0 to 21, with higher scores representing greater symptoms of anxiety
14 day recall, recorded at the end of run-in and open label months
Somatic Symptom Severity (Patient Health Questionnaire 15)
Time Frame: 28 days recall; measured at end of run-in month and blinded month
Mean difference in PHQ 15 score between run-in month and blinded month. The PHQ-15 comprises 15 somatic symptoms experienced over the prior 4 weeks and their severity, each symptom scored from 0 ("not bothered at all") to 2 ("bothered a lot"). The range for the overall score is between 0 and 30, with higher score representing more severe somatic symptoms
28 days recall; measured at end of run-in month and blinded month
Somatic Symptom Score (Patient Health Questionnaire-15)
Time Frame: 28 day period in run-in month and open label month
Mean difference in PHQ 15 score between run-in month and open label month. The PHQ-15 comprises 15 somatic symptoms experienced over the prior 4 weeks and their severity, each symptom scored from 0 ("not bothered at all") to 2 ("bothered a lot"). The range for the overall score is between 0 and 30, with higher score representing more severe somatic symptoms.
28 day period in run-in month and open label month
Epworth Sleepiness Scale Score
Time Frame: recorded at the end of run-in month and blinded month
Mean difference of Epworth Sleepiness Scale score between run-in month and blinded month. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is used to measure excessive daytime sleepiness. This is an 8 item questionnaire, recalling probability of falling asleep in "recent times". The subjects are asked to rate probability of falling asleep in eight different situations. The score for each item ranges from 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing), with the overall score range of 0 to 24. Higher scores represent higher probability of falling asleep.
recorded at the end of run-in month and blinded month
Epworth Sleepiness Scale Score
Time Frame: Score recorded at the end of run-in and open label month
Mean difference of Epworth Sleepiness Scale score between run-in month and open label month. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is used to measure excessive daytime sleepiness. This is an 8 item questionnaire, recalling probability of falling asleep in "recent times". The subjects are asked to rate probability of falling asleep in eight different situations. The score for each item ranges from 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing), with the overall score range of 0 to 24. Higher scores represent higher probability of falling asleep.
Score recorded at the end of run-in and open label month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Toledo Health Science Campus

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Gretchen Tietjen, MD, University of Toledo, HSC

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 15, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 21, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 23, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 10, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 2, 2015

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UTHSC-13

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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