Javascript must be enabled to continue!
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for the Management of Neuropathic Pain: A Narrative Review
View through CrossRef
BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is common and often resistant to conventional analgesics. Among different types of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been widely used to mitigate pain in patients with NP. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the effects of tDCS on the management of various types of NP. STUDY DESIGN: Narrative review. METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted for articles published until October 1, 2020, using tDCS to treat NP. The key search phrase, transcranial direct current stimulation and pain, was used to identify potentially relevant articles. The following inclusion criteria were applied for article selection: (1) studies involving patients with NP and (2) studies that used tDCS to treat NP. Review articles were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 524 potentially relevant articles were identified. After reading the titles and abstracts and assessing eligibility based on the full-text articles, 34 publications were included in our review. Overall, our results suggest that tDCS induced pain reduction in patients with NP due to stroke or spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or trigeminal neuralgia. There is insufficient evidence to validate the efficacy of tDCS for treating other painful conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome, phantom pain, or NP of various origins. LIMITATIONS: The review did not include studies indexed in databases other than PubMed. CONCLUSION: The results of the included studies suggest that tDCS may be beneficial in treating patients with NP due to stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and trigeminal neuralgia. Further studies are recommended to validate the efficacy of tDCS in treating other types of NPs. KEY WORDS: Transcranial direct current stimulation, neuropathic pain, central post-stroke pain, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, complex regional pain syndrome, phantom pain, trigeminal neuralgia
Title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for the Management of Neuropathic Pain: A Narrative Review
Description:
BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is common and often resistant to conventional analgesics.
Among different types of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been widely used to mitigate pain in patients with NP.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the effects of tDCS on the management of various types of NP.
STUDY DESIGN: Narrative review.
METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted for articles published until October 1, 2020, using tDCS to treat NP.
The key search phrase, transcranial direct current stimulation and pain, was used to identify potentially relevant articles.
The following inclusion criteria were applied for article selection: (1) studies involving patients with NP and (2) studies that used tDCS to treat NP.
Review articles were excluded from the analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 524 potentially relevant articles were identified.
After reading the titles and abstracts and assessing eligibility based on the full-text articles, 34 publications were included in our review.
Overall, our results suggest that tDCS induced pain reduction in patients with NP due to stroke or spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or trigeminal neuralgia.
There is insufficient evidence to validate the efficacy of tDCS for treating other painful conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome, phantom pain, or NP of various origins.
LIMITATIONS: The review did not include studies indexed in databases other than PubMed.
CONCLUSION: The results of the included studies suggest that tDCS may be beneficial in treating patients with NP due to stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Further studies are recommended to validate the efficacy of tDCS in treating other types of NPs.
KEY WORDS: Transcranial direct current stimulation, neuropathic pain, central post-stroke pain, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, complex regional pain syndrome, phantom pain, trigeminal neuralgia.
Related Results
Differential Diagnosis of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Review
Differential Diagnosis of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Review
Abstract
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a complex and often overlooked condition caused by the compression of neurovascular structures as they pass through the thoracic outlet. ...
Types of Chronic Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty and Their Relationship with Pain Intensity, Disability, and Quality of Life
Types of Chronic Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty and Their Relationship with Pain Intensity, Disability, and Quality of Life
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of different pain mechanisms, including nociplastic pain, and to evaluate the associations of these mechanisms with pain intensity, disabilit...
NLRP3 inflammasome: a key driver of neuroinflammation and a novel therapeutic target for neuropathic pain
NLRP3 inflammasome: a key driver of neuroinflammation and a novel therapeutic target for neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain represents a serious complication arising from a spectrum of disorders that precipitate lesions within the central and peripheral nervous systems. This disabling p...
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Neuropathic Pain: A Bibliometric Analysis
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Neuropathic Pain: A Bibliometric Analysis
Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system and is one of the most incapacitating pain types, representing a significant non-met medical need. Due...
EPD Electronic Pathogen Detection v1
EPD Electronic Pathogen Detection v1
Electronic pathogen detection (EPD) is a non - invasive, rapid, affordable, point- of- care test, for Covid 19 resulting from infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus. EPD scanning techno...
Chest Wall Hydatid Cysts: A Systematic Review
Chest Wall Hydatid Cysts: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Introduction
Given the rarity of chest wall hydatid disease, information on this condition is primarily drawn from case reports. Hence, this study systematically reviews t...
A Chinese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
A Chinese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
<i>Background</i>: Neuropathic pain refers to pain caused by injury or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system, which is a common and frequen...
Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Right Temporoparietal Junction Suppresses Its Functional Connectivity and Reduces Contralateral Spatial and Temporal Perception
Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Right Temporoparietal Junction Suppresses Its Functional Connectivity and Reduces Contralateral Spatial and Temporal Perception
The temporoparietal junction plays key roles in vestibular function, motor-sensory ability, and attitude stability. Conventional approaches to studying the temporoparietal junction...

