A Mixed Methods Exploration of Electrical Stimulation in Veterans with Fibromyalgia Symptoms & Affective Disorders

Past research has shown that electrical stimulation has modest beneficial effects on symptoms of fibromyalgia, which is also commonly associated with anxiety and depression. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness and utilization of electrical stimulation (AID or M units) at-home by Veterans.

Sixty Veterans were identified using the Fibromyalgia Symptoms Questionnaire for an electrical stimulation trial during January 1-December 31, 2016 at a Midwestern VA Medical Center. Each patient completed a brief, semi-structured phone interview, which included an inquiry about the benefits of the units on affective symptoms.

Quantitative findings suggest that participants who were given any kind of unit (AID or M units) did not have a significant change in pain level from baseline to follow-up. Participants who were given any kind of unit (AID or M units) did not report a significant change in anxiety, depressive, or insomnia symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Qualitative findings produced three thematic maps: utilization, effectiveness, and satisfaction.

This study used a quasi-experimental, one group, pre-/post-test design, and explored the benefits of programming when based on patient self-selection. The instruments used in this study were self-report measures, and the lack of change may have been due to the use of binary versus continuous measures. The findings may differ among other Veterans as the current sample had a larger representation of minority groups compared to the typical Veteran profile.

This information is invaluable in helping patients who suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms and affective disorders and for the providers aiding in their treatment.