Publications by authors named "Sofia Cecilio"
Introduction: The assessment of cortical excitability (CE) measurements has been increasingly used in neuropsychiatric research. However, there is scant information on the normative values of these measurements, as well as the possible effect of hemisphere laterality, gender and age on these variables.
Objectives: To obtain normative data for CE measurements by transcranial magnetic stimulation, to assess inter-/intra-investigator variability and the influence of sex, age and oral contraception use.
Objective: Based on evidence showing that electrical stimulation of the nervous system is an effective method to decrease chronic neurogenic pain, we aimed to investigate whether the combination of 2 methods of electrical stimulation-a method of peripheral stimulation [transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)] and a method of noninvasive brain stimulation [transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)]-induces greater pain reduction as compared with tDCS alone and sham stimulation.
Methods: We performed a preliminary, randomized, sham-controlled, crossover, clinical study in which 8 patients were randomized to receive active tDCS/active TENS ("tDCS/TENS" group), active tDCS/sham TENS ("tDCS" group), and sham tDCS/sham TENS ("sham" group) stimulation. Assessments were performed immediately before and after each condition by a blinded rater.
Existing therapies for vulvodynia are inadequate. Because vulvodynia has a pathophysiology similar to chronic pain, central nervous system dysfunction may underlie this painful disorder, and noninvasive methods of neuromodulation may prove highly effective. We report a case of severe, medically refractory vulvodynia that responded remarkably to treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation.
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