Effect of adjunctive intermittent theta-burst repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a prophylactic treatment in migraine patients: A double-blind sham-controlled study

The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) seems to exert a bilateral control of chronic pain states such as migraine. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is known to modulate brain excitability, neurotransmitters, and endogenous opioids involved in pathophysiology of migraine.

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of adjunctive intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) to the left DLPFC, as a prophylactic treatment in migraine.

The study was a double-blind, sham-controlled experiment. Patients with migraine were allotted to active (n = 20) or sham (n = 21) rTMS, respectively. Each patient received ten sessions of iTBS over the left DLPFC. Patients were rated at baseline and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks after receiving the treatment. Scores were obtained from the headache diary and by applying the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS).

There was a significant decrease in frequency, duration, and severity of migraine in the active group than the sham group over the study period. The effect was more pronounced during the initial 2 weeks. The MIDAS score reduced significantly in the active group than the sham group at 12 weeks. There were no significant adverse effects observed during the entire period of study.

Compared to sham stimulation, adjunctive active iTBS over the left DLPFC was safe and effective in reducing the frequency, duration, and severity of migraine headache and in reducing disability associated with the illness.