rTMS in alleviating Pain and Co-morbid symptoms in GWVI

Va San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego CA

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract Headaches (HA), muscle and joint pain and depression are some of the most common debilitating symptoms in military personnel served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War (GW1). Migraine like HA and diffuse body pain were detected in 64% of Gulf War Veteran (GWV) diagnosed with Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (GWVI). Likewise, depression carries a very high co- morbid prevalence (50%) in patients with chronic pain, and in GWV with GWVI related chronic HA, and body muscle and joint pain conditions (GWVI-HAP). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) offers an effective non-invasive treatment option for GWVI-HAP. Our preliminary study funded by the DOD Innovation Treatment Evaluation Award for GWVI demonstrated that a short course (4 sessions) of rTMS at the motor cortex could significantly reduce GWI-HAP symptoms up to two months. This multi-center clinical trial study aims to further: 1) valid the long-term efficacy of the treatment for GWI-HAP and depression; and 2) assess site specificity of the treatment for both pain and depression. !