FAQ

Where can the NIBS-SES be downloaded?

All versions can be downloaded from the OSF repository.

Is there a digital version of the questoinnaire available?

In addition to a paper-and-pencil version, digital implementations are available via Qualtrics and SoSci Survey. A REDCap-compatible instrument file will be made available via OSF to support standardized data collection across research sites 

What stimulation methods does the NIBS-SES cover?

The NIBS-SES is designed for use with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial electrical stimulation (tES; including tDCS and tACS), and transcranial ultrasound stimulation (tUS).

Can the questionnaire be used repeatedly across sessions?

Yes. The NIBS-SES was developed for repeated, session-by-session administration and is suitable for routine safety monitoring across multiple sessions.

Does the NIBS-SES distinguish between different time windows of side effects?

Yes. The final instrument distinguishes between sensations or effects occurring during stimulation and those occurring between sessions.

Is the NIBS-SES validated?

Development combined empirical session data and structured literature review of adverse effects across TMS, tES, and tUS. An initial item pool was informed by 851 TMS sessions and adverse effects reported in the literature. The questionnaire was refined using structured expert ratings and open-ended feedback. Psychometric analyses supported feasibility for repeated administration and indicated stable reporting patterns for acute side-effect items across temporally adjacent sessions. The final NIBS-SES distinguishes effects occurring during stimulation from those occurring between sessions.

Is the questionnaire available in multiple languages?

Yes. Professional translations were prepared and reviewed by field experts for conceptual accuracy for Arabic, Basque, Catalan, Dutch, French, Galician, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Persian, Portuguese, Spanish. Covering the most widely spoken languages as well as the most active noninvasive brain stimulation communities worldwide. All translations were reviewed for conceptual accuracy by field experts.

Can I freely use the NIBS-SES in my study or clinic?

Yes. The NIBS-SES is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. You may use, share, and adapt it—including for clinical or commercial contexts—provided you give appropriate credit and cite the original source.

Can I adapt or translate the questionnaire?

Yes. Adaptations and translations are permitted under CC BY 4.0. Please cite the original NIBS-SES publication and indicate clearly if you modified the instrument.

How should I cite the NIBS-SES? 

If you use the NIBS-SES in any publication, thesis, preprint, or protocol, please cite the associated methods and psychometrics paper. Provide the citation and BibTeX on this page for copy/paste, and consider using the suggested Methods sentence. If you create a translation or adapted version, please cite the original NIBS-SES in addition to your derived version. 

Suggested Methods text (copy/paste):

BibTeX (copy/paste):

@article{...}