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Randomized Controlled Trial of CES for Fibromyalgia

NCT04115033 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 50

Last updated 2026-05-22

Study results available
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Summary

Given recent increasing opioid-related deaths and evidence showing against the use of opioids for non-malignant chronic pain, there is growing need for non-narcotic pain management. Fibromyalgia is a difficult to treat chronic pain condition that is often treated with opioids despite existing evidence. The prevalence of fibromyalgia is increased among Veterans returning from the gulf war and is already a significant burden in senior Veterans who may have suffered with chronic pain for decades already. Many treatment options for fibromyalgia carry intolerable side effects. CES (Cranial Electrical Stimulation) is a FDA-approved, non-pharmacologic therapy that is currently utilized within the military and VA system, but sufficient evidence regarding its outcomes and neural mechanisms have not been adequately investigated. An understanding of its neural underpinnings and analgesic effects could lead to 1) improvements in pain management and quality of life, 2) cost-savings and 3) development of new techniques to address pain.

Conditions

  • Fibromyalgia

Interventions

DEVICE

Alpha-stim

The device for both groups is the Alpha-stim, a FDA-approved device similar to the Military Field Stimulator (MFS/Neuro-Stim System), a cranial electrical stimulation (CES) device.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • VA Office of Research and Development

    lead FED

Principal Investigators

  • Anna Woodbury, MD · Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-03-02
Primary Completion
2024-09-30
Completion
2024-09-30
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04115033 on ClinicalTrials.gov