Effect of transcutaneous electrotherapy on CSF β-endorphin content in patients without pain problems

Abstract
To test the hypothesis of opiate-like peptide release after transcutaneous electrotherapy, .beta.-endorphin CSF content was measured in 13 patients without pain problems. A time-dependent increase of CSF .beta.-endorphin in the group of patients studied occurred. The analgesic properties of the treatment may be ascribed to an involvement of the endogenous opiates system, independently from the basal clinical conditions of the patients.