Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Chronic Pelvic Pain

NCT00554320 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RP07066
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

We will rigorously test whether modulation of the motor cortex by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an effective treatment for patients with chronic pelvic pain through the following specific aims: A) The primary aim of this study is to determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation applied to the motor cortex in patients with chronic pelvic pain induces a significant decrease in the pain or symptoms as compared with sham tDCS. We will also measure changes in the clinical symptom scores of multiple pelvic organs, drug intake (narcotic), anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, as well as overall improvement in the quality of life to assess the effects of this treatment. B) Determine the duration of the clinical effects of tDCS. We will therefore compare the amelioration of pain and related symptoms between active and sham tDCS for one year following treatment. C) Determine whether tDCS changes the threshold for pain detection as compared with sham tDCS. Patients with chronic pelvic pain have a lower threshold for pain as compared to healthy subjects and we hypothesized that this threshold will increase after stimulation with tDCS. D) Finally, we will examine whether 5 days of tDCS treatment is safe for use in chronic pelvic pain patients. Safety will be assessed through neuropsychological tests and adverse event reporting.

Conditions

Chronic Pelvic Pain; Interstitial Cystitis; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Fibromyalgia; Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Keywords

vulvodynia; painful bladder syndrome; myofascial pain syndrome; pelvic floor tension myalgia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Patient Global Assessment (PGA):

  2 weeks

• Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain:

  2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Interstitial cystitis symptom index:

  2 weeks

Study Arms (2)

A

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

During each session, the anode electrode will be placed on the motor cortex (contralateral to the most \[or predominant\] painful side \[or the side where the symptoms begin or the left as a default\]) and the cathode will be placed over the contralateral supraorbital area. In active tDCS subjects, 1 mA of transcranial direct current stimulation will be applied for 30 minutes.

Procedure: tDCS

C

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

For sham-controlled tDCS subjects, the same montage will be used; however current will be applied only for 30 seconds.

Procedure: tDCS

Interventions

tDCS PROCEDURE

During each session, the anode electrode will be placed on the motor cortex (contralateral to the most \[or predominant\] painful side \[or the side where the symptoms begin or the left as a default\]) and the cathode will be placed over the contralateral supraorbital area. In active tDCS subjects, 1 mA of transcranial direct current stimulation will be applied for 30 minutes.

A

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Subjects must be females between 18 and 55 years of age.
• Subjects must have a current VAS for pelvic pain of 5 or more.

You may not qualify if:

• Known pelvic malignancy.
• Patients with major depression with suicidal risk as clinically defined.
• Patients with other known, uncontrolled neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Abnormal neurological examination other than as signs of the condition studied in the present protocol.
• Contraindication to tDCS:
• A history of unmanaged substance abuse or dependence within the last 6 months.
• A history of previous treatment with tDCS.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Summa Health System: lead

Study Sites (1)

Summa Health System

Akron, Ohio, 44309, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cystitis, Interstitial; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Fibromyalgia; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Vulvodynia; Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cystitis; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Colonic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Vulvar Diseases; Genital Diseases, Female; Genital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Therapeutics; Convulsive Therapy; Psychiatric Somatic Therapies; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Electroshock; Psychological Techniques

Study Officials

• Bradford W Fenton, MD, PhD

  Summa Health System

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 2, 2007
• First Posted: November 6, 2007
• Study Start: January 1, 2009
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2009
• Study Completion: June 1, 2009
• Last Updated: September 18, 2009

Record last verified: 2009-09

Locations

US (1)