Slow-Frequency rTMS Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain: Table 1

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Abstract
Objective. Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia (FM) is a centrally mediated pain disorder. Antidepressants, including electroconvulsive therapy, provide some symptomatic relief in FM and other pain disorders. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new antidepressant treatment, which may also be useful in treating chronic pain. Design. As part of a larger study, four women with depression, FM, and borderline personality disorder received 1-Hz rTMS applied to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Subjects rated pain using an 11-point Likert scale. Results. Pretreatment pain averaged 8.2 (7–9.5) and reduced to 1.5 (0–3.5) after treatment ( P < 0.009). All had improvement in pain, and two had complete resolution of pain. Only one of the four subjects had an antidepressant response. Conclusions. These preliminary findings suggest a possible role for rTMS in treating FM.