Cranial electrotherapy stimulation- treatment implications in fibromyalgia

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In past cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) has been reported to be effective in tinnitus, anxiety etc. In another study by Lichtbroun AS et al (2001) cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), micro-current levels of electrical stimulation are passed across the head via electrodes clipped to the ear lobes with an aim to gauge the effect of this treatment on fibromyalgia.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 60 randomly assigned patients were given 3 weeks of 1-hour-daily CES treatments, sham CES treatments, or were held as wait-in-line controls for any placebo effect in the sham-treated patients.

Treated patients showed improvement in tender point scores, and self-rated scores of general pain level. In addition, there were significant improvement in quality of sleep, self-rated feelings of well-being and quality of life, plus gains in six stress-related psychological test measures. No placebo effect was found among the sham-treated controls.

A role of CES in affecting the brain's pain message mechanisms and/or neurohormonal control systems may be the probable mechanism. It is concluded that CES is as effective as the drug therapies in several trials, with no negative side effects, and deserves further consideration as an additional agent for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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