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The Journal of Headache and Pain
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

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

Authors: Tim Hagenacker, Vera Bude, Steffen Naegel, Dagny Holle, Zaza Katsarava, Hans-Christoph Diener, Mark Obermann

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2014

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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.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Patient-conducted anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex alleviates pain in trigeminal neuralgia
Authors
Tim Hagenacker
Vera Bude
Steffen Naegel
Dagny Holle
Zaza Katsarava
Hans-Christoph Diener
Mark Obermann
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-15-78

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