Background/Purpose: Despite promising preliminary results of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment in patients with fibromyalgia (FM), several issues need to be addressed, including its limited efficacy, low response rate, and poor tolerability. We investigated the efficacy and safety of tDCS as an add-on treatment for chronic widespread pain in Korean patients with FM.

Methods: This study enrolled 38 patients, who were refractory to pain medications, seen at Chonnam National University Hospital from May 2016 to December 2016. A conventional tDCS device was used to supply 2 mA of current for 20 minutes on 5 consecutive days. The anode was placed over the primary motor cortex (M1) and the cathode was located contralateral supraorbital area. The primary end point was a change in visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score at the end of treatment and secondary end points included changes in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale scores.

Results: After tDCS, 38 patients showed clinical improvements in the VAS pain score on days 6, 13 and 36 compared with day 0 (p = < 0.001). However, improvement of FIQ scores was only seen at day 36. The BPI and BDI were significantly decreased on days 6 and 13, while BFI and STAI-I were significantly improved only at day 6. The most of improved indices were not maintained until day 36. There were no significant improvements in Sleep Scale scores after tDCS at days 6, 13, and 36. No serious adverse event was observed.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that tDCS has the potential to produce significant pain relief in FM patients, and may constitute an effective add-on treatment for these patients.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-add-on-transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-on-pain-in-korean-patients-with-fibromyalgia/