Dropout rate | |||||||||||||
 | tDCS | 4% (n = 2) | Reasons: | • The first dropout patient got a mild panic attack before the first session, during the tDCS work-up procedure to familiarize participants with tDCS sensations. He preferred to quit the intervention afterwards. | |||||||||
 | Sham | 0% (n = 0) |  | • The second dropout patient was admitted to an intensive in-house therapy after the second tDCS session, preventing him from finishing the remaining tDCS sessions of the intervention. | |||||||||
Side effects during tDCS sessions (self-report questionnaire) | |||||||||||||
 | Acute change in mood | Burning | Difficulty concen-trating | Dizziness | Head ache | Itching | Nausea | Neck pain | Pain on the skull | Red skin after session | Sleepi-ness | Tingling | |
Incidence (severity score > 1) | tDCS | 18% | 46% | 67% | 16% | 29% | 55% | 4% | 19% | 11% | 3% | 55% | 54% |
Sham | 16% | 29% | 69% | 11% | 27% | 30% | 4% | 19% | 9% | 6% | 44% | 49% | |
Attribution to tDCS | tDCS | 2,5 | 3,4 | 2,1 | 2,8 | 2,5 | 3,3 | 2,5 | 1,8 | 2,9 | 3,5 | 2,4 | 3,1 |
Sham | 2,2 | 3,0 | 1,8 | 2,8 | 2,1 | 2,9 | 3,4 | 1,5 | 2,7 | 3,2 | 1,9 | 3,1 | |
Current strength and comfort during tDCS sessions (self-report questionnaire) | |||||||||||||
 | Perceived current strength | SD | Comfort | SD |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||
 | tDCS | 3,5 | 2,5 | 6,2 | 2,2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
 | Sham | 2,4 | 2,2 | 6,8 | 2,2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
Adverse events outside the research visits (researcher reports) | |||||||||||||
 |  | Head ache | Nausea | Dizziness | Fatigue | Insomnia | Feeling tense | Depressed mood | Red/sensitive skin at electrode site |  |  | ||
Incidence | tDCS | 43% | 4% | 6% | 28% | 4% | 11% | 6% | 8% | Â | Â | ||
 | Sham | 41% | 8% | 12% | 14% | 8% | 20% | 6% | 4% |  |  | ||
Severity | Â | 1,5 | 1,6 | 1,5 | 1,9 | 1,7 | 1,8 | 1,8 | 1,2 | Â | Â | ||
Duration |  | < 1 day | < 1 day | < 1 day | < 1 day | 2–3 days | < 1 day | 1–2 days | < 1 day |  |  | ||
Change in emotional state from pre- to post-session (STAI-6) | |||||||||||||
 | Calm | SD | Tense | SD | Upset | SD | Relaxed | SD | Content | SD | Worried | SD | |
 | tDCS | -0,1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0,4 | 0 | 0,2 | 0 | 0,4 | -0,1 | 0,3 | -0,1 | 0,2 |
 | Sham | -0,1 | 0,3 | + 0,1 | 0,3 | + 0,1 | 0,2 | -0,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0,3 | -0,1 | 0,2 |