Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as Treatment Method for Pain in Fibromyalgia

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as Treatment Method for Pain in Fibromyalgia

The purpose of this study is to investigate Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as treatment method for pain in fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia (FIM) is a chronic pain condition with high prevalence. Studies involving neuroimaging techniques have identified functional differences in cerebral pain processing in patients with FIM, as compared to healthy controls. This may support that FIM do have a functional CNS component.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and safe method for inducing changes in cortical excitability. Previous studies showed that anodal stimulation of M1 may change pain perception, possibly by modulating functional anomalies in the FIM brain. The present study has two main goals:

1. To investigate if tDCS may provide FIM patients with symptom relief due to reduction of pain.
2. To investigate tDCS induced functional changes in the brain by using fMRI.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fibromyalgia (ACR-90 criteria, M79.7 ICD10)
• Mean VAS > 4 daily 2 weeks prior to study).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe mental disease
• CNS disease
• Mental retardation
• Age < 18