Investigating the Pure and Combined Effect of M1 and F3 Anodic tDCS on Improving the Psychological Status of People with type 2 Diabetes and Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pains are common complications of chronic diabetes that have a negative effect on patients' mood. The present study, however, was conducted with the aim of determining the pure and combined effect of M1 and F3 anodic tDCS on reducing psychological distress in type 2 diabetes patients with neuropathic pain.

The study is a four-group double-blind randomized clinical trial. The statistical population of the study was all patients aged 45 to 65 years with type 2 diabetes who were members of the Bonab Diabetes Association in the winter of 2021 and spring of 2022, identified by specialists as having neuropathic pain. The research sample was 48 people selected in a purposeful way and according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, the subjects were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Patients in 4 groups received their own interventions for 12 sessions, three times a week. The data collection tool was the 42-item depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS).

According to the results, the average psychological distress in the post-test, 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up phases, compared to the pre-test phase, was significantly reduced. However, there was no difference in the mean psychological distress scores between the other phases (post-test, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up). That is, even up to the 3-month follow-up phase, the effect of the interventions remained.

Therefore, the application of transcranial direct current stimulation, considering its therapeutic potential, can be expanded in people with diabetes.