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East Midlands AHSN collaborated with the General Practice Alliance in Northampton to deliver a real world demonstrator programme using the Alpha-Stim device. The device uses a low voltage current to induce changes to the electrical activity of the brain, from stressful rhythms to relaxing rhythms.
It has similar effects to the skilled practice of meditation/mindfulness. It is shown on EEG machines to increase alpha brain waves (related to relaxation and calmness) and reduce beta waves (related to excitement and stress).
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders with lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 13.6% to 28.8% (Kessler & Wang, 2008; Michael et al, 2007). More than ever, people are experiencing increased levels of anxiety due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic including work stress, economic impact, loss of social connections, loss of meaningful activity, and restrictions on life - this is also disproportionality affecting NHS frontline staff.
Patients usually present first with anxiety symptoms to their General Practitioner (primary care) and, where a diagnosis of anxiety is given, they may be offered medication or a referral to NHS Talking Therapy (NHSTT) services locally.
Patients can experience a wait for an NHSS assessment, further appointments, and an offer of treatment options.
Alpha-Stim is a mobile phone size device and is connected via soft pad clips to the earlobes for up to an hour a day. The user can choose to wear the device around their neck attached to a lanyard so they can carry out light activities whilst it is in use.
Alpha-Stim is safe and is CE marked for the intended purpose, with NICE confirming “people using Alpha-Stim aid have a low risk of side effects”. (NICE MTG56 Section 4.5)
The demonstrator saw the deployment of Alpha-Stim to treat patients with anxiety disorders within the General Practice Alliance (GPA) - a Northamptonshire based GP Federation with approximately 200,000 patients. The prevalence of anxiety described above equates to a potential range of between 1360 and 2880 potential patients that could benefit.
NICE Guidance states that clinical experts have identified there is an unmet clinical need for treating people with anxiety disorders within primary care. Guidance has found that people who do not want to have medication or talking therapy often prefer to use the Alpha-Stim device.
During the period of the demonstrator, 77 patients (91.6% of those offered) consented to use of the device with full baseline and follow-up measures captured for 33 (43%).
53.39% of patients achieved reliable improvement and 33.3% achieved remission, measured using the GAD-7 scale.
Fifteen patients were interviewed as part of the evaluation. They reported that the device was accessible, easy to use, reliable, and could easily be incorporated into their daily routine.
The participants described reductions in their anxiety and panic attacks and increases in feeling of calmness and relaxation. This is supported by prior quantitative research, which found Alpha-Stim AID significantly reduces anxiety symptoms (Barclay & Barclay, 2014; Griffiths et al 2021; Morriss et al. 2019; Royal et al. 2022; Shekelle et al. 2018).
The General Practice Alliance in Northamptonshire is continuing to offer the Alpha-Stim device to patients diagnosed with anxiety.
EMAHSN has shared information about this project with local commissioners to enable decision making associated with treatment options for anxiety in primary care.
The full evaluation report is available here.
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