Slow-Frequency rTMS Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain

doi:10.1111/j.1526-4637.2006.00106.x

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Wiley InterScience

Pain Medicine

Volume 7 Issue 2, Pages 115 - 118

Published Online: 28 Mar 2006

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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT

Slow-Frequency rTMS Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain

Shirlene M. Sampson, MD, Jeffrey D. Rome, MD, and Teresa A. Rummans, MD

Mayo Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Correspondence to Shirlene M. Sampson, MD, Mayo Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, W11A, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Tel: 507-284-3143; Fax: 507-284-4158; E-mail: sampson.shirlene@mayo.edu.

A poster describing these preliminary findings was presented at the American Neuropsychiatric Association meeting held in Honolulu, February 1–4, 2003.

KEYWORDS

Fibromyalgia • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation • Depression • Chronic Pain • Borderline Personality Disorder

ABSTRACT

Objective. Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia (FM) is a centrally mediated pain disorder. Antidepressants, including electroconvulsive therapy, provide some symptomatic relief in FM and other pain disorders. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new antidepressant treatment, which may also be useful in treating chronic pain.

Design. As part of a larger study, four women with depression, FM, and borderline personality disorder received 1-Hz rTMS applied to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Subjects rated pain using an 11-point Likert scale.

Results. Pretreatment pain averaged 8.2 (7–9.5) and reduced to 1.5 (0–3.5) after treatment (P < 0.009). All had improvement in pain, and two had complete resolution of pain. Only one of the four subjects had an antidepressant response.

Conclusions. These preliminary findings suggest a possible role for rTMS in treating FM.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1526-4637.2006.00106.x About DOI