TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION - DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL OF ITS EFFICACY FOR PAIN

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (1) , 8-13
Abstract
A double-blind trial was done using a stimulator and a placebo device on patients who had chronic pain to determine the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in controlling pain. Of the 93 patients studied, 83 completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Some patients (33) had low-back pain and 24 had neuropathies. The stimulator was more effective than the placebo during treatment when used over the center of pain (P < .005) or over an unrelated nerve trunk (P < .01) and after treatment over the center of pain (P < .05). The stimulator was significantly more effective than the placebo in neuropathies when stimulating over the related nerve trunk (P < 0.005), where the stimulator response was nearly 3 times better than that of the placebo. The duration of subsequent relief was not significantly different after treatment with the stimulator or with the placebo device. Follow-up showed significant declines in the use and effect of the stimulator with the greatest decline noted by the depressed group.

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