Academic Journal

Guidelines for TMS/tES clinical services and research through the COVID-19 pandemic

Bibliographic Details
Title: Guidelines for TMS/tES clinical services and research through the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bikson, M, Hanlon, CA, Woods, AJ, Gillick, BT, Charvet, L, Lamm, C, Madeo, G, Holczer, A, Almeida, J, Antal, A, Ay, MR, Baeken, C, Blumberger, DM, Campanella, S, Camprodon, JA, Christiansen, L, Loo, C, Crinion, JT, Fitzgerald, P, Gallimberti, L, Ghobadi-Azbari, P, Ghodratitoostani, I, Grabner, RH, Hartwigsen, G, Hirata, A, Kirton, A, Knotkova, H, Krupitsky, E, Marangolo, P, Nakamura-Palacios, EM, Potok, W, Praharaj, SK, Ruff, CC, Schlaug, G, Siebner, HR, Stagg, CJ, Thielscher, A, Wenderoth, N, Yuan, TF, Zhang, X, Ekhtiari, H
Source: urn:ISSN:1935-861X ; urn:ISSN:1876-4754 ; Brain Stimulation, 13, 4, 1124-1149
Publisher Information: Elsevier
Publication Year: 2020
Collection: UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales): UNSWorks
Subject Terms: 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 42 Health Sciences, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities, Behavioral and Social Science, Coronaviruses, Infectious Diseases, Coronaviruses Disparities and At-Risk Populations, Brain Disorders, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Neurosciences, Health Services, Mental Health, 3 Good Health and Well Being, Aged, Behavior, Addictive, Betacoronavirus, Biomedical Research, Brain, COVID-19, Child, Clinical Trials as Topic, Coronavirus Infections, Delivery of Health Care, Humans, Nervous System Diseases, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral
Description: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has broadly disrupted biomedical treatment and research including non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). Moreover, the rapid onset of societal disruption and evolving regulatory restrictions may not have allowed for systematic planning of how clinical and research work may continue throughout the pandemic or be restarted as restrictions are abated. The urgency to provide and develop NIBS as an intervention for diverse neurological and mental health indications, and as a catalyst of fundamental brain research, is not dampened by the parallel efforts to address the most life-threatening aspects of COVID-19; rather in many cases the need for NIBS is heightened including the potential to mitigate mental health consequences related to COVID-19. Objective: To facilitate the re-establishment of access to NIBS clinical services and research operations during the current COVID-19 pandemic and possible future outbreaks, we develop and discuss a framework for balancing the importance of NIBS operations with safety considerations, while addressing the needs of all stakeholders. We focus on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and low intensity transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) - including transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS). Methods: The present consensus paper provides guidelines and good practices for managing and reopening NIBS clinics and laboratories through the immediate and ongoing stages of COVID-19. The document reflects the analysis of experts with domain-relevant expertise spanning NIBS technology, clinical services, and basic and clinical research – with an international perspective. We outline regulatory aspects, human resources, NIBS optimization, as well as accommodations for specific demographics. Results: A model based on three phases (early COVID-19 impact, current practices, and future preparation) with an 11-step checklist (spanning removing or streamlining in-person protocols, incorporating ...
Document Type: article in journal/newspaper
Language: unknown
Relation: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/unsworks_68096; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2020.05.010
DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.05.010
Availability: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/unsworks_68096
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2020.05.010
Rights: open access ; https://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 ; CC-BY-NC-ND ; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ; CC BY-NC-ND
Accession Number: edsbas.B4DDAC2F
Database: BASE
Description
DOI:10.1016/j.brs.2020.05.010