For immediate release
Study Shows Alpha-Stim reduces Pre-Operative Anxiety
A recent study has shown that Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is effective in the treatment
of pre-operative anxiety [1].
Fifty women aged between 20 and 65, who had been diagnosed with suspected thyroid cancer and
scheduled for surgery took part in the study at the Korea University College of Medicine. The purpose of this
study was to investigate the efficacy of CES for the treatment of preoperative anxiety.
The women were randomly assigned to one of two groups – one group of 25 received treatment with an
active CES device pre-set at 100 microamperes which is a subsensory level, whilst the other group were
given a ‘sham’ device, identical to the active CES device, but which did not emit any electricity. Each person
in was given one 20-minute treatment the day before their surgery and one 20-minute treatment just prior to
surgery.
Anxiety was assessed in the pre-operative holding area after the CES or ‘sham’ treatment. Scores were
given on a 5 point Likert scale, where ‘1’ indicated no anxiety and ‘5’ indicated extremely anxious. There was
a significant difference between the active and sham groups for anxiety – the average score for the active
CES group was 1.24 compared to 2.76 for the ‘sham’ group on the Likert anxiety scale.
The active CES device used in this Korean study was an Alpha-Stim. The Alpha-Stim is one of the most
researched in its class, with more than 60 completed research studies and published reports, and several
more underway. The Alpha-Stim AID has a sleek, modern design with digital display, similar in look to the
latest phone or i-pod. Peer-reviewed published outcome studies show that 93% of patients report significant
relief from their anxiety, stress, depression and insomnia after use. The effects of Alpha-Stim are usually
immediate, cumulative and long lasting. Because of this, many practitioners use the Alpha-Stim in their
treatment programs at their clinics, as well as provide or advise the device for their patients to use at home.
The Alpha-Stim microcurrent waveform activates particular groups of nerve cells that are located at the
brainstem. These groups of nerve cells produce the chemicals serotonin and acetylcholine which can affect
the chemical activity of nerve cells that are both nearby and at more distant sites in the nervous system. By
changing the electrical and chemical activity of certain nerve cells in the brainstem, the Alpha-Stim appears
to amplify activity in some areas of the brain, and diminish activity in others. This induces feelings of
calmness, relaxation and increased mental focus, decreasing stress, reducing agitation and stabilising mood.
These effects can be produced after a single treatment, and repeated treatments have been shown to
increase the strength and duration of these effects. In some cases, effects have been stable and permanent,
suggesting that the electrical and chemical changes made by Alpha-Stim technology have led to a re-tuning
of the brain back to normal functioning.
The Alpha-Stim AID retails from £399 and is available from www.alpha-stim.co.uk or 0843 289 7227.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Reference
[1] Lee, S-H, Kim, W-Y, Lee C-H, Min, T-J, Lee Y-S, Kim J-H. Effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation on
preoperative anxiety, pain and endocrine response. Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine,
Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. Journal of International Medical
Research, November 21, 2013.
Quality of the Research
Strengths of the study include: (1) A randomized, sham controlled, double-blind design was used; (2) Active
and sham devices were pre-set for each group for current level and time. (2) Sham devices were the same
as active devices, except they did not emit electricity. Limitations include: baseline measures were not taken
for anxiety prior to study. Including a baseline measure of anxiety would strengthen this study. A limitation
cited by the investigators was the inability to control for any possible placebo effect experienced by the
control group due to sham treatment. They recommended that in future research, 3 groups be included;
active, sham and a placebo control group. The findings of this study are consistent with the findings of other
CES studies on anxiety; CES decreases anxiety.
The Alpha-Stim has FDA approval in the US
CASE STUDIES AND CLINICAL STUDIES FOR VARIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS AVAILABLE
SPOKESPEOPLE
Dr. Lesley Parkinson – Consultant, Clinical-Psychologist, Specialist in Neuropsycho-Physiology
Possibly the UK’s most experienced consultant clinical-psychologist in BioFeedback, Neurofeedback,
Hemoencephalography and quantitative electro-encephalographic assessment (qEEG) and brain health.
Caroline Carr Dip Adv Hyp, BA (Hons) is a clinical hypnotherapist, best-selling author and life coach with
over 20 years’ experience helping people overcome depression, anxiety and confidence issues. Her
consulting room is in Harley Street, London. For more information on Caroline see www.carolinecarr.com
Caroline is also the author of LIVING WITH DEPRESSION, and HOW NOT TO WORRY. She has appeared
on national television and radio including This Morning, ITV1 and Woman’s Hour, BBC radio 4. She also
appears regularly in the national press.
Richard Morley – one of only a few Certificated NLP and Health Practitioners in the UK, and a Master
Practitioner and Trainer of NLP. He is also a Practitioner of Clinical Hypnotherapy, Full Member of the British
Society of Clinical Hypnosis, a Tutor and Supervisor with the London College of Clinical Hypnotherapy and
an approved therapist for the National Smoking Cessation Institute. See www.hypnonlp.co.uk
Dr Chris Steele MBE – British medical doctor well known for his many media appearances. He is the
resident doctor on ITV's This Morning daytime magazine show. He appeared on the very first show in 1988
and still appears on the show every week. He qualified as a doctor in 1968 and has worked as a general
practitioner in South Manchester ever since.
Further Information
For more information, case studies and images call Ian and Jenny Liddle, Excellart, on: 01761 413 022
email: info@excellart.co.uk, Website: www.excellart.co.uk
ENDS