Chrronic Pain Patients Clinical Trial
Official title:
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Chronic Pain Relief
In the present study, the investigators intend to investigate whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective in reducing pain in chronic pain patients.
tDCS is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that utilizes low amplitude direct
currents applied via scalp electrodes to modulate the level of cortical excitability.Several
studies have demonstrated that tDCS applied over the sensory-motor cortex has been able to
decrease pain sensation and to increase pain threshold in healthy subjects and in chronic
pain patients.
The aim of this study was to test whether daily sessions of anodal tDCS repeated for 5
consecutive days may be effective in reducing pain in a large number of chronic pain
patients.
Patients will receive sham tDCS or real tDCS in a 5-day period of treatment in a randomized,
sham controlled study. The participants will be divided to 2 groups of 50 each. One group
will receive 5 days period of 20 min 2mA tDCS over the lt M1 and the other will receive sham
stimulation. X week later the groups will switch to the other arm.
Pain will be measured using visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the short form McGill
questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Disability will be measured using the ( Pain Disability Index (PDI)
of Life-54 scale (MSQoL-54). Depressive symptoms and anxiety will also be evaluated using
the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and the State-trait Anxiety
Inventory (STAI). Cognitive function will be mesured using minimental test. Evaluations will
be performed at baseline, immediately after the end of treatment, and once a week during a
3-week follow-up period.
;
Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Treatment