Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Summary

Research on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is increasing rapidly. High-frequency rTMS administration to FMS patients is reported to restore intracortical facilitation and provide successful pain relief. This finding supports restoration of cortical stimulation as one of the possible mechanisms of action for rTMS. One treatment protocol is intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS, a variant of excitatory rTMS). Although there are many treatment protocols, there are few widely accepted treatment schemes in the literature. In fibromyalgia syndrome, there is no study in the literature. It was planned to include at least 30 patients aged 18-65 years who were admitted to İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic or hospitalized in the ward and diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome according to the 2016 criteria. This study has a prospective, parallel group, randomized, sham-controlled study design. A total of 30 fibromyalgia patients will be randomized into 2 groups and will receive a total of 10 sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation to the primary motor cortex with intermittent theta bust stimulation technique or sham application. Patients will continue their current fibromyalgia treatment.Numeric Rating Scale-pain intensity (NRS-pain), revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Hospital Depression Anxiety Scale (HADS) will be used in the evaluation of the patients.

Conditions

• Fibromyalgia
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Repetitive
• Pain

Interventions

DEVICE

Intermittent theta-burst stimulation

Neuro-MS/D (Neurosoft) rTMS device will be used for stimulation with an angulated figure-of-eight coil. Neuronavigation system will be used to determine the application site. Before each session, active motor threshold (aMT) will be determined by obtaining a motor evoked potential with an amplitude of \>200μV in the EMG recording of the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI), which is slightly contracted (10-20% of maximum contraction) in at least five out of 10 stimuli delivered to the primary motor cortex. The handle will be held at a 45° angle to the sagittal plane, pointing backwards and laterally to create posterior-anterior current flow in the brain. The stimulation parameters are as follows: Parameters: Stimulation type:Burst Stimulus amplitude (% MT): 80 Burst frequency in sequence (Hz):5 Pulse frequency within burst (Hz):50 Number of bursts in the sequence: 10 Number of series:20 Interval between sequences: 8 sec Total time: 3min 47sec Total number of pulses: 600

DEVICE

Sham Intermittent theta-burst stimulation

In the sham application, the probe of the transcranial magnetic stimulation device will be placed in the vertical position and held perpendicular to the vertex and applied at an ineffective dose so that the patient hears the same sound. In order for the device to produce the same sound and warning sounds as the active application, it will be operated at the lowest operating power of 1 power. In the device operating at this power, there is no possibility of any warning due to the upright position of the probe.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Izmir Katip Celebi University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-13

Primary Completion

2027-02-01

Completion

2027-04-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations