Low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with fibromyalgia and major depression

Abstract

Objective: To study the efficacy of low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with fibromyalgia and major depression.

Design: Twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive 20 sessions of real or sham transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The main stimulation parameters were 15 trains at 110% of the motor threshold for 60 seconds at a frequency of 1 Hz. Blinded external evaluators administered the fibromyalgia scales (FibroFatigue, Likert pain) and the depression scales (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression) during the study.

Results: Both treatment groups (real and sham) improved their scores in some of the scales (FibroFatigue and Clinical Global Impression), although there were no differences between them. No improvements were observed in the Likert Pain Scale in either of the groups.

Conclusion: With the methodology used in this study, patients with fibromyalgia and major depression who received real magnetic stimulation did not present significant differences in symptoms with respect to those who received sham magnetic stimulation.