ELECTRIG: Evaluating Effects of Cranial Electrical Stimulation Therapy With Responsive Imaging in Gulf War Illness Pain and Comorbid Symptoms
The main goal of the proposed study is to critically evaluate a nonpharmacological and readily available therapy, cranial electrical stimulation (CES) using Alpha-Stim™, and to discover the brain function mechanisms underlying Gulf War Illness-related Headache and Pain (GWI-HAP) and treatment response to CES. For this objective, the investigators will employ an adaptive trial design as well as a neuroimaging technique using MRI, which has become the pre-eminent technique for assessing the integrity of brain function, connectivity, and organization in healthy brain and pathology.
• Subjects must be male and female age 40-80 years old
• Meet criteria for GWVI based on the CDC and Kansas Criteria for GWVI.
‣ CDC: 1 or more from at least 2 of the following categories for ≥ 6 months): 1) fatigue 2) mood and cognition (symptoms of feeling depressed, difficulty in remembering or concentrating, feeling moody, feeling anxious, trouble in finding words, or difficulty in sleeping) 3) musculoskeletal (symptoms of joint pain, joint stiffness, or muscle pain
⁃ Kansas: 3 of 6 domains: 1) fatigue and sleep problems 2) pain symptoms 3) neurologic, cognitive, or mood symptoms 4) gastrointestinal symptoms 5) respiratory symptoms 6) skin symptoms chronic since 1990. Symptom reporting must be in the absence of diagnosed exclusionary conditions; only respondents who have at least 1 moderately severe symptom or 2 or more symptoms within a group were considered to have a high level of symptoms in the group.
• Subjects must self-report consistent, daily pain (greater than or equal to 4 on the DVPRS) \>90 days (prior to enrollment)
• Subjects must have intact skin free of infection at the site of electrode placement (earlobe).
• Subjects must be willing to participate and understand the consent.
• Subjects must be right-handed to provide consistency in brain structure and function.