The effect of Dual-site Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and computer-based rehabilitation on cognitive outcome in ischemic stroke patients.

Effectiveness of dual transcranial direct current stimulation and rehabilitation with computer-based software on the improvement of cognitive disorders in ischemic stroke patients

Clinical trial type study that has four intervention groups. The sample size is 60 patients. The design of the study is parallel and includes the control group and there will be 15 patients in each group. Blinding is a double-blind type and randomization of patients is done using a table of random numbers.

Male and female patients with ischemic stroke hospitalized in acute and sub-acute phases in the scu department in Imam Reza hospital in Tabriz. After evaluation of patients and diagnosis of cognitive impairment by MOCA test and CANTAB software and QEEG recording, one week after discharge, treatment interventions will be performed for four groups and the patients will be re-evaluated EEG will be recorded again. Blinding will be double- blind method.

M/F patients with unilateral ischemic stroke in acute and sub-acute phase, age range of 40 to 65 years, having minimum reading and writing literacy, having NIHSS score 15 or less and mRS score 3 or less, obtaining MOCA score(18-25), not having movement problems in the dominant hand, not having a history of previous strokes and seizures, not having vision and hearing problems and no aphasic patients

Group1) Two-site or dual transcranial direct current stimulation Group2) Cognitive rehabilitation using rehacom software combined with artificial exercises tDCS Group3) Cognitive rehabilitation with rehacom software combined with two-site transcranial direct current stimulation Group4) control, receiver of routine therapeutic rehabilitation

MOCA test, BARTHEL test, QEEG indicators, CANTAB cognitive test scores

A simple method is used for randomization and the randomization unit is an individual. The randomization tool includes a table of random numbers and a sealed envelope, so that the list that is created for randomization by the computer with the help of a table of random numbers will be done by someone who has no role in other parts of the research and also the list will remain confidential with the person and will not be revealed until the study is completed, and when the patients visit, the number assigned to each person will be in an invisible envelope.

The participants of the current study, which include stroke patients, as well as, the patients companions and health care workers and the people who are in charge of data analysis will not have any knowledge about the allocation of patients to the intervention groups and will be kept blind. But the main researcher, the person who performs all the interventions, will be in charge of evaluating the results and the safety committee and data monitoring will not be blinded.