Headache is the most prevalent pain disorder, affecting around 66% of the global population. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left DLPFC in treating patients with primary chronic daily headaches (chronic tension type headache and chronic migraine).
Methods
Twenty-seven patients participated in the study, divided into two groups: a study group (sixteen patients) and a control group (eleven patients). Treatment consisted of twelve high frequency (5 Hz) real rTMS sessions, delivered over the left DLPFC, every other day excluding weekends, whereas sham rTMS was used for the control group. Measures of attack frequency, headache intensity and headache index were recorded before and after treatment.
Results
Patients of the study group, after real rTMS stimulation, showed a high statistically significant reduction of the measured headache parameters compared to the control group (P-value < 0.001) and the percentage of improvement was 94.5%. No significant reduction of headache parameters, after sham rTMS stimulation, was observed in the control group (P-value > 0.05) and percentage of improvement was 7.9%.
Discussion
Results came in agreement with most of other studies done in this field. Conclusion:High-frequency rTMS is effective in reducing chronic tension headache and chronic migraine.
Significance
This finding runs with the approval of the suggested role of DLPFC in pain control. This might open opinions for new treatment strategies in tension type headache and migraine prevention.
