Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Temporomandibular Disorders.

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA · Feb 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effectiveness of a treatment called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for people suffering from chronic Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD). TMD can cause pain in the jaw and face, and for many, this pain can last for more than six months, affecting their daily lives. The researchers aim to see if TMS, a safe and non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate parts of the brain, can help relieve this chronic pain and improve the quality of life for patients.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be over 18 years old and have been diagnosed with TMD, experiencing pain that is quite severe (rated above 5 on a scale of 0 to 10). However, certain individuals, such as those with specific neurological or psychiatric conditions, pregnant women, or people with certain medical devices, cannot participate. If you join the study, you can expect to receive TMS treatment and participate in assessments to help understand how this therapy works for TMD. This research could contribute to new ways to manage chronic pain for those struggling with TMD.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals of both sexes, literate, aged over 18 years with the diagnosis of muscular and/or joint TMD by the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC-TMD).
• • Pain duration longer than 6 months.
• • Intensity of orofacial pain greater than 5 on the visual analogue scale (VAS).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Volunteers who present verbal communication impairment due to a neurological disorder, a sequel to a previous illness, or a psychiatric condition.
• • Pregnant women
• • Individuals with any impediment to MRI: having a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, cochlear implant, ferromagnetic aneurysm clips, electrodes used for deep brain stimulation, ocular implants, Swan-Ganz catheter, orthopedic prostheses or metallic bodies close to the area of interest.
• • Individuals with any contraindication for transcranial magnetic stimulation: have focal or generalized encephalopathies, increased intracranial pressure, and severe heart disease; history of head trauma, epilepsy, and individuals with first-degree relatives diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy; use of drugs that lower the seizure threshold (tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics); chronic use of alcohol or epileptogenic drugs.