tDCS Added to CBT Speeds Pain Relief in Veterans

A double-blind randomized controlled trial (NCT02483468) tested adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain in 115 Veterans with chronic low back pain and prescription opioid misuse. The trial reported that participants receiving real tDCS showed a steeper decline in pain and functional impairment over time compared to sham, though opioid misuse decreased similarly in both groups with no added benefit from tDCS. The authors state that tDCS may accelerate recovery trajectories during behavioral pain treatment even when end-of-treatment scores are similar between groups.

Most relevant for: Veterans with chronic low back pain and co-occurring prescription opioid misuse undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain.

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