Taylor & Francis website : “Effects of EEG stimulation in the treatment of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a multicenter randomized controlled trial with a 6-month open-label study phase”
- Alex Xu
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
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Report summary ~
Background:
Chronic pain is a major problem faced by many patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Unfortunately, SCI-related neuropathic pain has been shown to be mostly ineffective against analgesic drugs and other existing therapies. Craniocerebral stimulation therapy (CES) has been shown to be effective in treating certain types of pain. The therapy applies a small amount of current to the head through the ear clip electrode.
Theme:
Explore the effectiveness of CES in neuropathic pain in patients with SCI and chronic pain.
Research Design:
Multi-site, double-blind, false controlled studies.
Participants:
Adults with SCI and chronic neuropathic pain at or below the injury plane were randomly assigned to receive active or pseudo-CES treatment.
Put one's oar in:
Active CES or pseudo-CES were applied 1 hour a day for 21 days. The 6-month open label period is designed to assess the use of “on-demand” CES.
Results measurement:
Changes in pain scores before and after treatment and changes in pain intensity, pain interference, pain quality, pain beliefs and coping strategies, general physical and mental health status, depression symptoms, perceived stress and anxiety.
Result:
The treatment group reported a significantly higher average pain reduction during daily treatment than the pseudo-CES group (Kruskal-Wallis chi-square test = 4.70, P <0.05). In the 21-day trial, there was a significant group × time interaction in only one outcome variable; before and after treatment, the reduction in pain interference in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the pseudo-CES group (F = 8.50, P = 0.01, d = 0.59).
Conclusion:
On average, CES appears to have achieved a slight but statistically significant improvement in pain intensity and pain disturbance with few troubling side effects. Individual results range from the lack of pain at all to the great relief of pain.