MedPath

Efficacy of rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) on Patients With Somatoform Pain Disorder

Not Applicable
Withdrawn
Conditions
Pain
Interventions
Device: repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Registration Number
NCT00726791
Lead Sponsor
Samsung Medical Center
Brief Summary

Chronic somatoform pain is common in psychiatric patients. Chronic somatoform pain causes significant distress and disrupts social functioning. Moreover, chronic somatoform pain often does not sufficiently respond to medication.

Chronic somatoform pain is associated with medial pain system. The medial pain system is comprised of structures engaged in affect and motivation, such as medial thalamus and limbic structures. The medial pain system gets inhibitory control from motor cortex. Functional neuroimaging studies indicate that chronic somatoform pain is associated with hypoactivity of motor cortex, defective inhibitory process, and hyperactivity of medial pain system.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a safe and non-invasive tool to modulate neurophysiologic activity of the focal brain. Therefore, pain relief by rTMS can be obtained from motor cortex stimulation, restoration of defective inhibitory process, and deactivation of medial pain system. Studies have shown that motor cortex stimulation using rTMS can relieve pain in patients with neuropathic pain. However, to our knowledge, there is no rTMS study on chronic somatoform pain in psychiatric patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of motor cortex rTMS on chronic somatoform pain.

Detailed Description

Chronic somatoform pain is common in psychiatric patients. Chronic somatoform pain causes significant distress and disrupts social functioning. Moreover, chronic somatoform pain often does not sufficiently respond to medication.

Chronic somatoform pain is associated with medial pain system. The medial pain system is comprised of structures engaged in affect and motivation, such as medial thalamus and limbic structures. The medial pain system gets inhibitory control from motor cortex. Functional neuroimaging studies indicate that chronic somatoform pain is associated with hypoactivity of motor cortex, defective inhibitory process, and hyperactivity of medial pain system.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a safe and non-invasive tool to modulate neurophysiologic activity of the focal brain. Therefore, pain relief by rTMS can be obtained from motor cortex stimulation, restoration of defective inhibitory process, and deactivation of medial pain system. Studies have shown that motor cortex stimulation using rTMS can relieve pain in patients with neuropathic pain. However, to our knowledge, there is no rTMS study on chronic somatoform pain in psychiatric patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of motor cortex rTMS on chronic somatoform pain.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of somatoform pain disorder, chronic
Exclusion Criteria
  • Neurological disorder
  • history of epilepsy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
1repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)high frequency rTMS applied to the motor cortex
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The short form McGill Pain Questionnairebaseline, mid-TMS, and after-TMS
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scalesbaseline, mid-TMS, and after-TMS
functional brain MRIbaseline and after-TMS
Clinical Global Impressionbaseline, mid-TMS, and after-TMS

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Samsung Medical Center

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath