Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
Published on: January 5, 2024
Long-term outcomes in fibromyalgia patients treated with noninvasive cortical electrostimulation
Jeffrey B Hargrove1, Robert M Bennett, Daniel J Clauw
1Department of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA. jhargrov@kettering.edu
Objective:
To evaluate long-term outcomes of a noninvasive cortical stimulation technology in the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM).
Design:
After trial follow-up survey of subjects who had completed a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of noninvasive cortical stimulation therapy some 45 months previously.
Setting:
General community.
Participants:
Patients with FM (N=69) who participated in the previous study, 39 of whom were mailed surveys.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure:
Changes in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.
Results:
There was a 64% survey return rate. The total Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score was 52.6 at baseline, 35.7 at end of study, and 31.8 at follow-up (P<.001). Subjects reported symptom improvements lasting at least 2 years, with a reduction or elimination of medicine use and need to see physicians for FM.
Conclusions:
A high percentage of patients with FM treated with noninvasive cortical stimulation continued to experience worthwhile improvement at follow-up.
