An observational study in Partial Epilepsy and Seizures, sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Completed at 1 site in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2008-03-04.
Sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Observational
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique that can be used to stimulate brain activity and gather information about brain function. It is very useful when studying the areas of the brain related to motor activity (motor cortex, corticospinal tract, and corpus callosum).
Epilepsy is a condition associated with seizures as a result of an over excitable cerebral cortex. Despite the introduction of several new antiepileptic medications, less than half of the patients diagnosed with partial epilepsy are well controlled. However, studies have shown that non-invasive stimulation of the brain can decrease the excitability of the cerebral cortex.
Researchers are interested in the potential therapeutic effects of TMS on patients with epilepsy that have responded poorly to standard medication. This study will use TMS to decrease the excitability of the areas of the brain responsible for seizures.
The purpose of this protocol is to study the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 1 Hz on the excitability of the seizure focus in patients with poorly controlled epilepsy refractory to pharmacological treatments. 1 Hz TMS is a rate proven to induce long term depression in animal models and reported to decrease the excitability of both human and animal cerebral cortex.
1,805 studies on the registry are indexed under Epilepsy; 417 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 32 is below the median of 102 across 521 observational studies indexed under Epilepsy.
Browse Epilepsy studies →National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the lead sponsor of 592 studies on the registry; 56 are open to participants now.
Of its 18 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (44%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Age 5 to 60 at entry to protocol.
History of partial or Complex Partial Epilepsy for two or more years.
Patients should be on a stable anti-convulsant regimen defined as unchanged medicines and dose modifications lower than 20% in the last month. Blood levels of anti-convulsants will be measured at the beginning of the study, prior to stimulation and after the study to assure that the type and dose of medication will remain constant.
Seizures not completely responsive to medical treatment (1 or more seizures per week for at least 6 months) and patients have failed at least two anti-convulsant regimens in the past.
The patients have a localized seizure focus.
Epilepsy refractory to medical treatments.
No pregnant women (will be tested with urine pregnancy test).
No severe coronary disease.
No metal anywhere in the cranium except the mouth.
No intracardiac lines.
No increased intracranial pressure as expressed by the presence of papilledema.
No cardiac pacemakers.
Must not be taking neuroleptic or antidepressant medications.
No progressive neurologic disease.
This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2002. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)