Exploration of Parameters of tDCS in Chronic Pain Patients
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Sponsor
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Enrollment
- 18
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in pain scales
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The investigators hypothesize that subjects will show a decrease in pain symptoms in the active anodal stimulation group when compared to sham stimulation.
Investigators
Felipe Fregni
Principal Investigator
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Providing informed consent to participate in the study
- •18 to 64 years old
- •Having chronic musculoskeletal pain (existing pain for more than 6 months with an average of at least 3 on a 0-10 VAS scale)
- •Pain resistant to common analgesics and medications for chronic pain such as Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Soma, Parafon Forte DCS, Zanaflex, and Codeine.
- •Must have the ability to feel pain as self reported
Exclusion Criteria
- •Contraindications to tDCS
- •metal in the head
- •implanted brain medical devices
- •History of alcohol or drug abuse within the past 6 months as self reported
- •Use of carbamazepine within the past 6 months as self reported.
- •Severe depression (with a score of \>30 in the Beck Depression Inventory)
- •History of neurological disorders as self reported.
- •History of unexplained fainting spells as self reported,
- •History of head injury resulting in more than a momentary loss of consciousness as self reported
- •History of neurosurgery as self reported
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in pain scales
Time Frame: Measured for approximately 5 weeks
Determine whether anodal or cathodal hd-tDCS is effective in reducing pain in subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain as measured by changes in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain. The VAS scale will be measured immediately before the hd-tDCS stimulation sessions and after the hd-tDCS stimulation sessions for each subject for the duration of their participation in the trial. This outcome will also be measured at their baseline visit, and follow-up visit.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in cutaneous hyperalgesia/allodynia(Measured for approximately 5 weeks.)