Peripheral pulsed electromagnetic fields may reduce the placebo effect in migraine patients that do not respond to the sham intervention in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial.

Complementary therapies in medicine · 2012 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 3250

Study snapshot

PublicationComplementary therapies in medicine · 2012

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and its possible modulation of the placebo effect in migraine. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial. SETTING: Government third level hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Patients with migraine were included. PEMF were applied to the wrist with a bracelet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency and intensity of the migraine attacks at baseline and during treatment were recorded. Also, we valuated the possible influence of gender and the presence of aura in the PEMF and placebo responses. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (fifteen women, 30±2 years old) were included. Migraine frequency and intensity was reduced with both PEMF and placebo to a similar extent in the whole population. However, in responders to placebo, migraine intensity was reduced to a median of 100% with the placebo and to 60% with the PEMF, while in non-responders there was only a slight effect of both treatments. Our results do not suggest an influence of gender or presence of aura in the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with PEMF may not alter either migraine intensity or frequency compared to baseline, but may reduce the response to placebo in migraine patients.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPatients with migraine

Sample size18

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In the whole population, migraine frequency and intensity were reduced with both PEMF and placebo to a similar extent. Among placebo responders, migraine intensity was reduced to a median of 100% with placebo and to 60% with PEMF; among placebo non-responders there was only a slight effect of both treatments. The results did not suggest an influence of gender or presence of aura on outcomes.

Outcomes measured

Migraine attack frequency
Migraine attack intensity
Placebo response/modulation
Influence of gender on response
Influence of aura on response

Limitations

Small sample size (n=18)
Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, duration) not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "peripheral pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) applied to the wrist with a bracelet",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Patients with migraine",
  "sample_size": 18,
  "outcomes": [
    "Migraine attack frequency",
    "Migraine attack intensity",
    "Placebo response/modulation",
    "Influence of gender on response",
    "Influence of aura on response"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the whole population, migraine frequency and intensity were reduced with both PEMF and placebo to a similar extent. Among placebo responders, migraine intensity was reduced to a median of 100% with placebo and to 60% with PEMF; among placebo non-responders there was only a slight effect of both treatments. The results did not suggest an influence of gender or presence of aura on outcomes.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=18)",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, duration) not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "pulsed electromagnetic fields",
    "PEMF",
    "migraine",
    "placebo effect",
    "randomized",
    "double-blind",
    "cross-over",
    "bracelet",
    "wrist"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2011.09.006
PubMed: 22305246

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