Patient-conducted anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex alleviates pain in trigeminal neuralgia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex has been shown to modulate pain and trigeminal nociceptive processing.

METHODS:

Ten patients with classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) were stimulated daily for 20 minutes over two weeks using anodal (1 mA) or sham tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1) in a randomized double-blind cross-over design. Primary outcome variable was pain intensity on a verbal rating scale (VRS 0-10). VRS and attack frequency were assessed for one month before, during and after tDCS. The impact on trigeminal pain processing was assessed with pain-related evoked potentials (PREP) and the nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) following electrical stimulation on both sides of the forehead before and after tDCS.

RESULTS:

Anodal tDCS reduced pain intensity significantly after two weeks of treatment. The attack frequency reduction was not significant. PREP showed an increased N2 latency and decreased peak-to-peak amplitude after anodal tDCS. No severe adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION:

Anodal tDCS over two weeks ameliorates intensity of pain in TN. It may become a valuable treatment option for patients unresponsive to conventional treatment.

• Authors: Tim Hagenacker, Vera Bude, Steffen Naegel, Dagny Holle, Zaza Katsarava, Hans-Christoph Diener, Mark Obermann
• Journal: The journal of headache and pain (J Headache Pain) Vol. 15 Pg. 78 (Nov 25 2014) ISSN: 1129-2377 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25424567 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Placebos

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Blinking (physiology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Evoked Potentials (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Motor Cortex (physiopathology)
• Pain Measurement
• Placebos
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (methods)
• Treatment Outcome
• Trigeminal Neuralgia (therapy)