Augmentation of EMDR With tDCS in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
NCT ID: NCT04084795
Last Updated: 2025-08-03
Study Results
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Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
96 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-01-21
2026-12-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Outcomes
Primary outcomes:
1. To test whether EMDR plus tDCS or EMDR plus sham-tDCS in comparison to TAU group, improve pain intensity, depressive and anxious symptoms and trauma associated symptoms after therapy and follow-up.
2. To test whether an improvement in pain intensity, depressive and anxious symptoms and trauma associated symptoms can be augmented by simultaneous tDCS comparing EMDR plus tDCS with EMDR plus sham-tDCS after the intervention and whether this is maintained at the follow-up visit.
Secondary outcomes:
3. To test whether the EMDR plus tDCS or EMDR plus sham-tDCS in comparison to TAU group, improves more in subjective wellbeing after the treatment, and whether this is maintained at the follow-up visit.
Indicators to monitor clinical changes will be performed via various standard self- and hetero-applied scales by blind-to-treatment raters and information provided by patients and the medical chart IT system of our catchment area at baseline (visit 1), post treatment at 6 months (visit 2), and follow-up evaluation at 12 months (visit 3).
This multicenter collaborative project will involve the participation of the Psychiatric Department of the Parc de Salut Mar responsible for coordinating the study, the Rheumatology Department of the Parc de Salut Mar responsible for patient recruitment, and the Cognitive Neuro-Lab of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya for guidance and council on tDCS use.
Design
Within a double-blind randomized controlled design, patients will be randomized to one of the following three treatment arms:
EMDR with tDCS (20 sessions) vs EMDR with sham-tDCS (20 sessions) vs TAU. Psychotherapists, raters, and patients will be kept blind for tDCS treatment conditions until the end of the trial.
Participants
The patient sample will consist of 96 females fulfilling the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM based on clinical interview (Wolfe et al, 2010).
Interventions
* EMDR therapy
* transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
* Treatment as Usual
Randomizations
Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three study groups using REDCap's stratified randomization module to ensure balanced allocation in terms of Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-R) score and education level. When a new participant is enrolled, REDCap identifies their stratum based on the data for these two variables, then it assigns them to a study arm using block randomization within that stratum, favoring the arm with the fewest current assignments to maintain balance. The allocation sequence is concealed from outcome raters until participants have finished the trial. This randomization module enforces balance by prioritizing equal group sizes within strata, even with uneven stratum sizes, it provides real-time adaptations by adjusting assignments dynamically as participants enroll and it logs all randomization events for reproducibility purposes.
Computation of sample size
The main tests of the study will consist of assessing whether patients assigned to EMDR show different levels in the pain intensity variable using a standard formula for two-tailed t-tests. The total sample size required to detect large to very large effect size differences (Cohen's d ≥ 1) between three groups with a significance level of 0.05 and statistical power of 80% is 28. Assuming 15% dropouts, we will aim to randomize 96 patients, meaning 32 per group.
Statistical Analysis
The distribution of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between groups at baseline will be summarized using descriptive statistics. The change in clinical and functional variables from the baseline evaluation to post intervention will be analyzed using linear model t-tests, including as regressors of no interest the potential confounders (age, pain score, anxiety and depression severity, and number of years in education). The statistical software used for the analysis will be the latest available version of R. The investigators will conduct an intention to treat (ITT) analysis, and will use the "Last Observation Carried Forward" (LOCF) method for losses at follow-up.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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EMDR plus tDCS
tDCS stimulation will consist of 2mA tDCS for 20 minutes applied immediately before EMDR sessions.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy
EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach using a standardized 8-phase protocol to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, facilitating the access to and processing of traumatic memories. Patients will receive 20 individual EMDR sessions of 60 minutes each using the standard protocol, as well as a specific pain protocol and the fibromyalgia protocol. EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy that uses standardized protocols and elements of cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and body-centered therapies, as well as dual stimulation (e.g., side-to-side eye movements).
The current standard protocol includes eight phases:
Patient history. Patient preparation. Patient assessment. Memory desensitization. Installing the positive cognition. Body scan. Closure. Reevaluation.
transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
tDCS represents a promising intervention option, given its capacity to modulate cerebral excitability in a simple, safe manner. F3 anodal; Fp1, F7, Fc5, AF3, Fc1, Fz, return montage will be used with the anode over the left DLPFC. Half of the patients will receive active stimulation and the other half sham stimulation. Active stimulation will consist of 2mA tDCS for 20 minutes applied immediately before EMDR sessions. The same protocol and montage will be used for sham stimulation.
EMDR plus sham-tDCS
Sham stimulation will consist of inactive tDCS for 20 minutes applied immediately before EMDR sessions
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy
EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach using a standardized 8-phase protocol to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, facilitating the access to and processing of traumatic memories. Patients will receive 20 individual EMDR sessions of 60 minutes each using the standard protocol, as well as a specific pain protocol and the fibromyalgia protocol. EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy that uses standardized protocols and elements of cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and body-centered therapies, as well as dual stimulation (e.g., side-to-side eye movements).
The current standard protocol includes eight phases:
Patient history. Patient preparation. Patient assessment. Memory desensitization. Installing the positive cognition. Body scan. Closure. Reevaluation.
Treatment as Usual
Patients in this condition will not receive EMDR nor tDCS sessions, and will continue to attend their regular visits with rheumatology and psychiatry.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy
EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach using a standardized 8-phase protocol to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, facilitating the access to and processing of traumatic memories. Patients will receive 20 individual EMDR sessions of 60 minutes each using the standard protocol, as well as a specific pain protocol and the fibromyalgia protocol. EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy that uses standardized protocols and elements of cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and body-centered therapies, as well as dual stimulation (e.g., side-to-side eye movements).
The current standard protocol includes eight phases:
Patient history. Patient preparation. Patient assessment. Memory desensitization. Installing the positive cognition. Body scan. Closure. Reevaluation.
transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
tDCS represents a promising intervention option, given its capacity to modulate cerebral excitability in a simple, safe manner. F3 anodal; Fp1, F7, Fc5, AF3, Fc1, Fz, return montage will be used with the anode over the left DLPFC. Half of the patients will receive active stimulation and the other half sham stimulation. Active stimulation will consist of 2mA tDCS for 20 minutes applied immediately before EMDR sessions. The same protocol and montage will be used for sham stimulation.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Mean pain score of at least 4 on the visual analog scale (VAS) in the two weeks preceding the clinical trial
* Presence of one or more traumatic events causing current trauma-related symptoms
* Current clinical symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
* 2 weeks of stable medication
Exclusion Criteria
* Neurological or serious medical diseases
* Bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia
* Suicidal ideation
* Previous EMDR therapy in the past two years
* Substance abuse/dependency within 1 month prior to participation (except for nicotine abuse/dependency),
* Pending FM-related litigation or disability
* Metallic implants in the head
* Positive test for pregnancy
* Skin sensitivity diseases (psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, etc.)
18 Years
70 Years
FEMALE
No
Sponsors
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Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
OTHER
Parc de Salut Mar
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Alicia Valiente
Principal investigator
Principal Investigators
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Benedikt L. Amann, M.D.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Parc de Salut Mar
Locations
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Centre Forum (Parc de Salut Mar)
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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Font Gaya T, Bordoy Ferrer C, Juan Mas A, Seoane-Mato D, Alvarez Reyes F, Delgado Sanchez M, Martinez Dubois C, Sanchez-Fernandez SA, Marena Rojas Vargas L, Garcia Morales PV, Olive A, Rubio Munoz P, Larrosa M, Navarro Ricos N, Sanchez-Piedra C, Diaz-Gonzalez F, Bustabad-Reyes S; Working Group Proyecto EPISER2016. Prevalence of fibromyalgia and associated factors in Spain. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2020 Jan-Feb;38 Suppl 123(1):47-52. Epub 2020 Jan 8.
Benor D, Rossiter-Thornton J, Toussaint L. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Wholistic Hybrid Derived From Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Emotional Freedom Technique (WHEE) for Self-Treatment of Pain, Depression, and Anxiety in Chronic Pain Patients. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Apr;22(2):268-277. doi: 10.1177/2156587216659400. Epub 2016 Jul 20.
Bernardy K, Klose P, Busch AJ, Choy EH, Hauser W. Cognitive behavioural therapies for fibromyalgia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Sep 10;2013(9):CD009796. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009796.pub2.
Borchers AT, Gershwin ME. Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2015 Oct;49(2):100-51. doi: 10.1007/s12016-015-8509-4.
Burke NN, Finn DP, McGuire BE, Roche M. Psychological stress in early life as a predisposing factor for the development of chronic pain: Clinical and preclinical evidence and neurobiological mechanisms. J Neurosci Res. 2017 Jun;95(6):1257-1270. doi: 10.1002/jnr.23802. Epub 2016 Jul 12.
Cohen H, Neumann L, Haiman Y, Matar MA, Press J, Buskila D. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in fibromyalgia patients: overlapping syndromes or post-traumatic fibromyalgia syndrome? Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Aug;32(1):38-50. doi: 10.1053/sarh.2002.33719.
Collado A, Gomez E, Coscolla R, Sunyol R, Sole E, Rivera J, Altarriba E, Carbonell J, Castells X. Work, family and social environment in patients with Fibromyalgia in Spain: an epidemiological study: EPIFFAC study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Nov 11;14:513. doi: 10.1186/s12913-014-0513-5.
Crettaz B, Marziniak M, Willeke P, Young P, Hellhammer D, Stumpf A, Burgmer M. Stress-induced allodynia--evidence of increased pain sensitivity in healthy humans and patients with chronic pain after experimentally induced psychosocial stress. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 7;8(8):e69460. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069460. eCollection 2013.
Hampstead BM, Briceno EM, Mascaro N, Mourdoukoutas A, Bikson M. Current Status of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Posttraumatic Stress and Other Anxiety Disorders. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2016 Jun;3(2):95-101. doi: 10.1007/s40473-016-0070-9. Epub 2016 Mar 28.
Lumley MA, Schubiner H, Lockhart NA, Kidwell KM, Harte SE, Clauw DJ, Williams DA. Emotional awareness and expression therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and education for fibromyalgia: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Pain. 2017 Dec;158(12):2354-2363. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001036.
O'Connell NE, Marston L, Spencer S, DeSouza LH, Wand BM. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for chronic pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 16;3(3):CD008208. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008208.pub4.
Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, Goldenberg DL, Katz RS, Mease P, Russell AS, Russell IJ, Winfield JB, Yunus MB. The American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom severity. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010 May;62(5):600-10. doi: 10.1002/acr.20140.
Yavne Y, Amital D, Watad A, Tiosano S, Amital H. A systematic review of precipitating physical and psychological traumatic events in the development of fibromyalgia. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2018 Aug;48(1):121-133. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2017.12.011. Epub 2018 Jan 10.
Gardoki-Souto I, Martin de la Torre O, Hogg B, Redolar-Ripoll D, Martinez Sadurni L, Fontana-McNally M, Blanch JM, Lupo W, Perez V, Radua J, Amann BL, Valiente-Gomez A, Moreno-Alcazar A. The study protocol of a double-blind randomized controlled trial of EMDR and multifocal transcranial current stimulation (MtCS) as augmentation strategy in patients with fibromyalgia. Trials. 2024 Dec 31;25(1):856. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08708-3.
Gardoki-Souto I, Martin de la Torre O, Hogg B, Redolar-Ripoll D, Valiente-Gomez A, Martinez Sadurni L, Blanch JM, Lupo W, Perez V, Radua J, Amann BL, Moreno-Alcazar A. Augmentation of EMDR with multifocal transcranial current stimulation (MtCS) in the treatment of fibromyalgia: study protocol of a double-blind randomized controlled exploratory and pragmatic trial. Trials. 2021 Jan 29;22(1):104. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05042-w.
Related Links
Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.
World Health Organization. 2012. Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades. 9a Modific. ed. Secretaría Ministerio de Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad. Madrid.
Other Identifiers
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2019/8772/I
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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