Efficacy of prefrontal-occipital transcranial direct current stimulation for refractory chronic migraine

Patients with chronic migraine (CM) frequently demonstrate resistance to conventional medical therapies, likely attributable to the multifactorial pathophysiology underlying their pain. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has recently emerged as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique for migraine prophylaxis. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of a tDCS protocol in treating CM patients, both with and without medication-overuse headache (MOH).

Thirty patients diagnosed with chronic migraine (CM) underwent treatment with tDCS (2 mA, 20 min/session) targeting the anodal right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathodal occipital region for three days each week over two weeks, followed by once-weekly sessions for an additional six weeks.

The tDCS demonstrated significant efficacy in pain reduction for CM patients, regardless of MOH comorbidity. After eight weeks, tDCS had significantly reduced severe migraine days (VAS score > 7), awakening migraine episodes, and mean headache intensity and duration. The maximum effects were observed for headache duration and the number of severe headache days. A reduction of more than 50% in the mean headache duration was achieved in 80% of participants. Similarly, 70% of patients demonstrated >50% decrease in severe headache days (VAS >7). Treatment was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse effects reported during the study period.

TDCS appears to be an effective, well-tolerated, non-invasive treatment for CM patients, including cases with MOH. The significant reductions in headache duration, intensity, and frequency suggest that tDCS may be a valuable option for those resistant to standard medical therapies.

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20140624018213N2. Registered 17 June 2026. Retrospectively registered.