Cranial electrical stimulation

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Stimulator with kit
Control panel of the stimulator

The cranial electrostimulation ( English cranial electrostimulation , CES) - Earlier descriptions are TCET ( trans cranial electrotherapy ) and NET ( neuro electric therapy ) - referred to in the medical an electromedical treatment method in which two electrodes on the scalp or on the earpieces a low electrical alternating current is supplied. The currents are below one milli ampere and are not felt by the patient. The voltages used are a few volts and the frequency range is usually between 0.5 and 100 Hertz .

The first attempts in this field were carried out by the French Leduc and Rouxeau in 1902. However, the actual CES did not emerge until the 1950s in Russia and at the beginning of the 1960s in the USA and is linked to the development of ECT ( electroconvulsive therapy ), which arose earlier in the 1930s. At that time it was used on an experimental basis to induce sleep (electrosleep experiments).

CES therapy is currently used for the following diseases:

The CES is used in scientific medicine, but is not without controversy because of the inconsistent study situation. The poor design of many studies on the subject is generally criticized. In several placebo-controlled studies, no effect could be proven, for example with smoking cessation. The effect on chronic pain seems to be promising.

Possible mechanisms of action

The effect of electrical currents on the ascending reticular activation system , the limbic system and the hypothalamus is discussed . In several studies an influence on the electroencephalogram (EEG) could be proven. Neurotransmitter concentrations seem to be influenced by the CES. After 20 minutes CES treatment were for beta-endorphin in plasma by 98%, in the cerebrospinal fluid by 219% and serotonin spinal fluid brain by 200% measured in the increased values.

See also

literature

  • B. Wallace: Evaluation of cranial electrostimulation therapy on short-term smoking cessation. In: Biological Psychiatry. Volume 42, Issue 2, 15 July 1997, pp. 116-121.
  • AL Padjen: Effects of Cerebral Electrical Stimulation on Alcoholism: A Pilot Study. In: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 19 (4), 1995, pp. 1004-1010.
  • S. Klawansky, A. Yeung, C. Berkey, N. Shah, H. Phan, TC Chalmers: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of cranial electrostimulation: efficacy in treating selected psychological and physiological conditions. In: Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 183 (7), 1995, pp. 478-484.
  • E. Scherder: Effects of Low-Frequency Cranial Electrostimulation on the Rest-Activity Rhythm and Salivary Cortisol in Alzheimer's Disease In: Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. Vol. 17, No. 2, 2003, pp. 101-108.
  • DL Kirsch: The science behind cranial electrotherapy stimulation. 2nd Edition. Medical Scope Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta 2002.
  • Slap into the dark . In: Der Spiegel . No. 13 , 1989 ( online ).

Web links

Commons : Cranial electrotherapy stimulation  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Marshall Gilula, Daniel Kirsch: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation Review: A Safe Alternative to Psycho Pharmaceuticals in the Treatment of Depression . In: Journal of Neurotherapy . tape 9 , 2005, p. 7–26 , doi : 10.1300 / J184v09n02_02 .
  2. ↑ DL Kirsch, RB Smith: The use of cranial electrotherapy stimulation in the management of chronic pain: a review . In: NeuroRehabilitation . tape 14 , no. 2 , 2000, pp. 85-94 .
  3. ↑ CN Shealy, RK Cady, RG Wilkie et al: Cerebral spinal fluid and plasma neurochemicals: response to cranial electrotherapy stimulation . In: J Neurol Orthop Med Surg . tape 18 , 1998, pp. 94-97 .