EFFECTS OF TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION (tDCS) ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH FIBROMYALGIA

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by widespread pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue and cognitive symptoms, often associated with anxiety disorders and depression. The lack of understanding of its etiopathogenesis makes it difficult to develop effective treatments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been investigated as a complementary approach to FM. A systematic review of nine studies that evaluated the effects of tDCS on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with FM was carried out. Most studies used a current intensity of 2 mA and a session duration of 20 minutes, with application on consecutive days. Results have shown a decrease in psychological symptoms in some studies, especially when combined with other therapeutic modalities such as physical exercise. However, some studies have found no significant effects of tDCS on the psychological symptoms of FM. The review suggests that tDCS may play a promising role in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression in FM, highlighting the importance of multimodal approaches in treating the condition and the need for further research to determine the optimal tDCS protocol and understand the neural mechanisms. underlying its effects on FM.