[Transcranial direct current stimulation for chronic pain].
BACKGROUND
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive method for neuromodulation. By changing the neurons' resting membrane potential, the method can alter the activity in areas of the brain. We therefore wished to review randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the treatment effect of tDCS on chronic pain.


METHODS
We undertook a search in PubMed with the search terms «transcranial direct current stimulation» and «pain», with «randomized controlled trial» as a filter.


RESULTS
Five randomised, controlled trials that used quantitative outcome measures for pain were identified. The studies focused on strongly varying groups of patients suffering from pain. The results from some of the studies showed that stimulation with the aid of tDCS led to a significantly lower level of pain, but seen as a whole, the results were not conclusive.


CONCLUSIONS
The method should be further investigated in studies that include clearly defined groups of patients suffering from pain, as well as a larger number of participants, before implementation of the method is considered as a treatment option for chronic pain.
Asbjørn J
AJ
Fagerlund
Martin K
MK
Bystad
Per M
PM
Aslaksen
D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care