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Home-based transcranial electric stimulation (tDCS over M1 or tACS over DLPFC) improves quality of life in chronic pain patients compared to sham stimulation

In a double-blind RCT with 120 chronic pain participants, both active tES modalities (M1-tDCS and DLPFC-tACS) significantly improved quality of life compared to sham, with mean differences of -7.7 and -7.8 respectively (p<.001). However, no differential effects were found for symptom-specific domains like mood, fatigue, or sleep, and all groups showed increased physical activity and physical function improvements.

Last updated: Jul 27, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Transcranial electric stimulation in chronic pain: Effects on quality of life, physical function, activity and clinical status.

rct

Gil-Ugidos A, L&#xf3;pez-Corch&#xf3;n M, &#x3a4;siarleston G, Segura-Jim&#xe9;nez V, Carrillo-de-la-Pe&#xf1;a MT · Journal of neuropsychology (2026)

Participants: 120
Duration: 15 sessions (exact duration in weeks not specified in abstract)
Intervention: 15 sessions of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) or transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), compared to sham stimulation
Outcome: Quality of life (QoL), mood, fatigue, sleep quality, perceived physical fitness, objective physical function tests, and accelerometry-measured physical activity
Effect Size: MD=-7.7 for M1-tDCS; MD=-7.8 for DLPFC-tACS (both p<.001 vs sham)
Population: 120 individuals with chronic pain (97 females, mean age 49.5 ± 8.7 years)

Result: In a double-blind RCT with 120 chronic pain participants, both active tES modalities (M1-tDCS and DLPFC-tACS) significantly improved quality of life compared to sham, with mean differences of -7.7 and -7.8 respectively (p<.001). However, no differential effects were found for symptom-specific domains like mood, fatigue, or sleep, and all groups showed increased physical activity and physical function improvements.

PubMed: 42490298DOI: 10.1111/jnp.70063

Mechanism Graph

tES modulates maladaptive nociplastic changes in chronic pain
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Neuromodulation of motor cortex or prefrontal cortex alters pain processing
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Improvements in QoL may arise from combined neurophysiological and contextual factors
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Result: Enhanced QoL but no specific effects on mood, fatigue, or sleep

Limitations

  • ⚠No differential effects on symptom-specific domains (mood, fatigue, sleep) compared to sham
  • ⚠All groups showed increased physical activity and physical function, suggesting strong contextual or placebo effects
  • ⚠Sample predominantly female (97 out of 120), limiting generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the active tES treatments improve pain directly?▼

The abstract focuses on QoL and physical function, not pain intensity; analgesic effects are mentioned as known but not specifically reported here.

Were there differences between tDCS and tACS in effectiveness?▼

No, both active modalities showed similar improvements in QoL (MD=-7.7 vs -7.8), with no significant differences between them.

Did the sham group also improve?▼

Yes, all groups (including sham) showed increased physical activity during intervention and improved physical function after intervention, indicating contextual factors contributed.

Is this treatment suitable for home use?▼

Yes, the study used home-based tES, suggesting it is feasible for self-administration under remote supervision.

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References

  1. 1.Gil-Ugidos A, L&#xf3;pez-Corch&#xf3;n M, &#x3a4;siarleston G, Segura-Jim&#xe9;nez V, Carrillo-de-la-Pe&#xf1;a MT. "Transcranial electric stimulation in chronic pain: Effects on quality of life, physical function, activity and clinical status.." Journal of neuropsychology, 2026. PMID: 42490298 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.70063
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.