Acupuncture Electro
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Acupuncture Electro · Jan 1991
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialEffects of cranial transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in normal subjects at rest and during psychological stress.
Some effects of sub-threshold sine-wave transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), passed between earlobe electrodes at a constant alternating current (AC) frequency of 100 Hertz (Hz), were investigated in 90 normal subjects after 30 minutes of treatment, and after 3 minutes of standardized mental stress (mental arithmetic) which immediately followed the 30 minute treatment. In a double-blind protocol, five groups received 1) active TENS during treatment and active TENS during stress; 2) active TENS during treatment and placebo TENS during stress; 3) placebo TENS during treatment and placebo TENS during stress; 4) placebo TENS during treatment and active TENS during stress; and 5) no treatment during both treatment and stress. ⋯ No significant differences were observed between active TENS; placebo TENS and no treatment in physiological or psychological response to the stress procedure. Results are discussed in terms of the applicability of this technique to the management of stress.