Alpha-Stim AID Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) anxiety and depression treatment for adults in a social prescribing service: anxiety and depression outcomes

Abstract

Background: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is common and can negatively impact people’s wellbeing and functioning. GAD treatment includes psychotherapy and/or anti-anxiety medication, which are not acceptable to or effective for many people experiencing GAD. Alpha-Stim AID cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) has evidence of effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Purpose: Evaluation of Alpha-Stim AID on anxiety and depression for adults with GAD symptoms using a social prescribing service. Methods: An open-label patient cohort design with no control group. Twenty-six adult patients, 22 females and 4 males, with an age range of 24 to 68 years and an average age of 49 years, completed 6 weeks of Alpha-Stim AID use. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were undertaken using participant self-report measures: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results: Reliable improvement and remission rates were 42% and 19% for GAD-7; 38% and 27% for PHQ-9. GAD-7 and PHQ-9 significantly improved with large effect sizes. Conclusions: A social prescribing service can offer, and patients will choose to use Alpha-Stim AID, which may be useful in the treatment of anxiety and depression. This study addresses the need for real-world data on Alpha-Stim AID in relation to response rates. It contributes to how Alpha-Stim Aid can be used in social prescribing services, including through a group-based pathway.