[Central and peripheral deafferent pain: therapy with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation].
BACKGROUND
This study evaluates the effects of repeated sessions of low- and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex on central and phantom limb pain.


METHODS
Twenty seven patients with central (n=13) and phantom limb (n=14) pain participated in a blind, randomised placebo-controlled study comparing the effect of 1-Hz and 5-Hz rTMS with sham stimulation. Each treatment block consisted of a 5-day baseline phase, a 5-day therapy phase, and an 18-day washout phase. In the therapy phase, 500 stimuli were applied in the particular frequency at about the same time on each day.


RESULTS
A reduction in pain immediately after stimulation was observed in all therapy groups. This effect was similar for all treatment conditions, including sham stimulation. No significant long-term effects of rTMS on pain intensity or mood were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
At present, rTMS can not be recommended as a standard therapy for central and phantom limb pain.
Irlbacher
K
K
Neurologische Klinik, Charité Centrum für Neurologie, Neurochirurgie und Psychiatrie, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin. stephan.brandt@charite.de
Kuhnert
J
J
Röricht
S
S
Meyer
B U
BU
Brandt
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D002422:Causalgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*