An interventional study of tDCS in Rheumatic Arthritis and Chronic Pain, sponsored by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Brazil. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-09.
Sponsored by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly complex inflammatory autoimmune disease. Several drugs have been developed in recent decades to target the immune components of inflammation. However, even with effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapies for controlling RA, many patients still report significant levels of chronic pain due to CNS neuroplasticity, perpetuating physical disability, psychosocial problems, decreased work activity, and poor quality of life. In addition, chronic pain can lead to increased public spending due to the need for more medical visits, ineffective drug treatments, and financial disability benefits. Transcranial stimulation (a noninvasive neural stimulation technique with minimal adverse effects and easy home use) has been a promising adjunct tool in the treatment of chronic pain and psychological disorders in diseases that affect the central nervous system in the long term. Thus, exploring transcranial direct current stimulation in RA patients with low levels of inflammation could impact on improving pain, functionality, psychological aspects and overall quality of life, as well as reducing healthcare costs for society.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly complex inflammatory autoimmune disease. Several drugs have been developed in recent decades to target the immune components of inflammation. However, even with effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapies for controlling RA, many patients still report significant levels of chronic pain due to CNS neuroplasticity, perpetuating physical disability, psychosocial problems, decreased work activity, and poor quality of life. In addition, chronic pain can lead to increased public spending due to the need for more medical visits, ineffective drug treatments, and financial disability benefits. Transcranial stimulation (a noninvasive neural stimulation technique with minimal adverse effects and easy home use) has been a promising adjunct tool in the treatment of chronic pain and psychological disorders in diseases that affect the central nervous system in the long term. Thus, exploring transcranial direct current stimulation in RA patients with low levels of inflammation could impact on improving pain, functionality, psychological aspects and overall quality of life, as well as reducing healthcare costs for society.
55 studies on the registry are indexed under Rheumatic Fever; 21 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 34 is below the median of 70 across 28 interventional studies indexed under Rheumatic Fever.
Browse Rheumatic Fever studies →Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul is the lead sponsor of 121 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
2 mA, 20 minutes/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks, applied at home under remote supervision.
Device: tDCS
Same parameters as active tDCS, but current was ramped down after 30 seconds to mimic sensation without delivering stimulation.
Device: tDCS
Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
VAS pain
Visual Analogue Scale for pain
Time frame: Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0-100 mm; higher scores indicate worse pain) assessed at baseline (Day 1), after 10 days of tDCS treatment, at Week 4 of tDCS treatment (end of treatment), and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment.
Plan to share: No — The Individual Patient Data (IPD) will not be shared due to privacy and confidentiality concerns, as well as the protection of sensitive patient information. Additionally, there may be legal or regulatory restrictions that prevent the release of such data. Sharing of IPD could also raise ethical issues regarding informed consent and the use of data beyond the initial scope of the study.
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