Actively Recruiting
Relieving Chronic Pain in Older Adults With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Led by Université de Sherbrooke · Updated on 2025-03-04
150
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
84 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
Université de Sherbrooke
Lead Sponsor
C
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The primary objective of this study is to determine, in a healthcare setting, the effectiveness of actual tDCS in reducing pain compared with placebo tDCS. This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial with parallel groups (real tDCS vs. placebo) blinded to participants, assessors and tDCS providers. The real tDCS group will receive a daily 20-minute session of tDCS (current intensity = 2 mA), for 5 consecutive days, while the placebo tDCS group will receive an equivalent treatment, but the current will be stopped after the first 30 seconds. The study will take place in 5 rehabilitation clinics in 3 Quebec regions. One hundred and fifty (150) seniors aged 65 years or older with chronic (\> 6 months), moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain will be recruited (50 participants/region). Follow-ups will take place at 1 week and 3 months post-treatment. The primary dependent variable is pain intensity (numerical scale from 0 to 10). Secondary variables will be measured using standardized and validated questionnaires: 1) pain-related interferences (physical function, mood, quality of life) and 2) perception of post-TDCS changes. Neurophysiological measures (pain control pathways).
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Relieving Chronic Pain in Older Adults With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Be aged 65 years or older
- Have chronic musculoskeletal pain lasting 6 months or more
- Experience moderate to severe pain with a rating of 4 or higher on a 0 to 10 scale
You will not qualify if you...
- Contraindications to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
- Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Medical conditions or risks judged by a healthcare professional to impair well-being
- Taking medications that affect GABAergic or glutamatergic systems that modulate tDCS effects
- Changes in other medications or rehabilitation treatments during the study are discouraged but not excluded
- People with epilepsy or seizures are not excluded but will be closely monitored during treatment
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal (IURDPM)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3S 2J4
Actively Recruiting
2
CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Québec, Quebec, Canada, G1V 4G2
Actively Recruiting
3
Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement (CdRV)
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, J1H 4C4
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Marie-Philippe Harvey, Ph. D
CONTACT
G
Guillaume Léonard, Ph. D
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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