title: Long-term outcomes in fibromyalgia patients treated with noninvasive cortical electrostimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate long-term outcomes of a noninvasive cortical stimulation technology in the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM).
  
  
  METHODS
  After trial follow-up survey of subjects who had completed a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of noninvasive cortical stimulation therapy some 45 months previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  General community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with FM (N=69) who participated in the previous study, 39 of whom were mailed surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 64% survey return rate. The total Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score was 52.6 at baseline, 35.7 at end of study, and 31.8 at follow-up (P<.001). Subjects reported symptom improvements lasting at least 2 years, with a reduction or elimination of medicine use and need to see physicians for FM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high percentage of patients with FM treated with noninvasive cortical stimulation continued to experience worthwhile improvement at follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA. jhargrov@kettering.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hargrove
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clauw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome