Modulating Anxiety and Functional Capacity with Anodal tDCS Over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Figures & data

Figure 1 CONSORT flowchart for the study.

Figure 2 Research protocol.

Notes: ^ƚOutcome evaluated on first, second, and third days of menstruation. *All outcomes evaluated only on the first day of menstruation.

Table 1 Sociodemographic and Clinical Variables

Sociodemographic Factors	Active tDCS	Sham tDCS	p Value
Age (years)	26.1 ± 3.8	21.0 ± 2.1	0.001
NRS	5.07 ± 0.47	4.54 ± 0.65	0.507
BMI	23.7 ± 3.9	21.8 ± 3.5	0.21
Menstrual cycle (days)	26.8 ± 2.2	28.8 ± 1.7	0.03
NRS	5.07 ± 0.47	4.54 ± 0.65	0.50
HAS	19.46 ± 1.9	19.45 ± 2.4	0.99
PA	21.92 ± 1.8	18.09 ± 0.9	0.09
NA	18.62 ± 1.4	13.55 ± 0.84	0.007
6MWT	503.4 ± 33.4	529.1 ± 13.90	0.51
Number of pregnancies (n)			0.27
Nulliparous	76.9% (10)	90.9% (10)
1 Pregnancy	0	9.1% (1)
2 Pregnancy	15.4% (2)	0
3 Pregnancy	7.7% (1)	0
≥ 4 Pregnancy	0	0
Marital status (n)			0.902
Never married	92.3% (12)	90.9% (10)
Married	7.7% (1)	9.1% (1)
Income* (n)			0.361
1 Minimum wage	15.4% (2)	45.5% (5)
2 to 3 Minimum wage	46.2% (6)	36.4% (4)
4 Minimum wage or more	30.8% (4)	18.2% (2)
Unreported	7.7% (1)	0

Notes: Clinical variables are shown as mean ± SD. Baseline data were assessed on the first day of menstruation over the first menstrual cycle. *Brazilian National Minimum Wage, US$252.14 per month.

Abbreviations: NRS, numeric rating scale; PA, positive affect; NA, negative affect; HAS, Hamilton Anxiety Scale; 6MWT, Six-Minute Walk Test.

Figure 3 (A, B) Mean changes in numeric rating scale (NRS) assessed for 3 consecutive days before treatment (baseline) and after intervention. *Significant difference in active tDCS when comparing day 1 to day 3. Percentages describes the difference between day 1 and day 3 in each group. (C, D) No significant changes in positive and negative affect were found. (E) Anxiety showed a significant difference between day 1 and day 3 in active tDCS. (F) Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) indicates statistically significant differences between groups of intervention** and in intragroup analysis for active tDCS*.