Long-term outcomes in fibromyalgia patients treated with noninvasive cortical electrostimulation

Hargrove JB, Bennett RM, Clauw DJ. Long-term outcomes in fibromyalgia patients treated with noninvasive cortical electrostimulation. 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.