rTMS Efficacy Coupled With Mirror Therapy

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-85
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne

About this trial

Neuropathic pain is particularly difficult to treat with classic first-line drugs. Neuromodulation techniques using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are useful alternative, but there is a need to improve their analgesic effect.Virtual reality mirror therapy has shown the capacity to alleviate pain and may be easily coupled with rTMS.The present project will investigate in individuals with neuropathic pain the effects of the rTMS coupled with virtual reality mirror therapy.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Clinical symptoms typical of neuropathic pain

Refractory to drug therapies

Lasting for at least 6 months, with a moderate to severe pain intensity (≥4/10 on Visual Analog Scale, VAS) and a stable pain treatment since 1month at least

Having right to health benefits

Disqualifiers

Ferromagnetic components and implanted microprocessors (i.e. cochlear implants)

Drug-resistant or active epilepsy, pacemaker, pregnancy, ongoing depression or personality troubles, and ongoing opioid treatment.

Any other contraindications to MRI scanner (e.g., claustrophobia, etc.).

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
  • Mirror therapy using virtual reality
  • Mirror therapy using sham mirror

Treatment groups

64 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups