Investigating the Effectiveness of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation, Cranial Electrical Stimulation, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Chronic Fatigue in Women with Fibromyalgia
Keywords:
Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cranial electrotherapy stimulation, Transcranial direct current stimulationAbstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), cranial electrical stimulation (CES), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on chronic fatigue in women diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Methods and Materials: This semi-experimental study included a statistical population consisting of all women with fibromyalgia who referred to Mehr Hospital in Behshahr during the first half of 2024. A total of 48 patients were selected and assigned to four groups: transcranial electrical stimulation intervention group (n = 12), cranial electrical stimulation intervention group (n = 12), acceptance and commitment therapy intervention group (n = 12), and a control group (n = 12). To collect data, the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (Chalder et al., 1993) was employed. The tES and CES interventions were delivered over 12 sessions of 20 minutes each, while the ACT intervention was conducted over 10 sessions of 90 minutes each. Data analysis was performed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and the Bonferroni test via SPSS version 22.
Findings: The results indicated that all three interventions—tES, CES, and ACT—were effective in significantly reducing fatigue in women with fibromyalgia compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found among the three intervention groups in terms of their effectiveness.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings suggest that each of these interventions can serve as an effective approach in alleviating chronic fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia. The selection of an appropriate intervention can be guided by individual circumstances, available resources, and patient preferences. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of employing non-invasive and psychological interventions in managing fatigue symptoms in this patient population and can serve as a foundation for developing integrated treatment protocols aimed at improving their quality of life.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Seyed Hasan Hashemi keneti (Author); Mohammad Taqi Badeleh Shamushaki; Javanshir Asadi, Arastoo Mirani (Author)
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