Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Chronic Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome: Analgesic Effect and Changes in Cortisol and β-Endorphin Levels
- Authors: Strоkov K.A.1
-
Affiliations:
- Crimean Republican Oncological Clinical Dispensary named after V.M. Efetov
- Issue: Vol 24, No 4 (2025)
- Pages: 271-279
- Section: Original studies
- Published: 16.08.2025
- URL: https://rjpbr.com/1681-3456/article/view/681245
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/rjpbr681245
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ZBAQYT
- ID: 681245
Cite item
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic post-mastectomy pain syndrome (CPMPS) affects 20%–50% of patients and significantly impairs quality of life. Venlafaxine is commonly used as part of comprehensive rehabilitation; however, side effects limit its efficacy. Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is being considered as a potential alternative.
AIM: The work aimed to assess the efficacy of transcranial electrical stimulation as an alternative to venlafaxine in reducing pain and improving plasma cortisol and β-endorphin levels in patients with CPMPS within the recommended comprehensive rehabilitation algorithm.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 90 outpatients with CPMPS randomized into two groups: the treatment group (n=45), in which TES was used instead of venlafaxine within the recommended comprehensive rehabilitation algorithm, and the comparison group (n=45), which received the recommended algorithm. Efficacy was assessed after 56 days using visual analog scale pain scores and plasma cortisol and β-endorphin levels. The control group included 80 individuals without CPMPS.
RESULTS: After 56 days of comprehensive rehabilitation, significant intergroup differences were found in the number of patients who achieved complete pain relief (p=0.017), as well as in cortisol levels (p = 0.001) and β-endorphin levels (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the use of TES as an effective and safe alternative to antidepressant pharmacotherapy in the comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with CPMPS.
Full Text

About the authors
Kirill A. Strоkov
Crimean Republican Oncological Clinical Dispensary named after V.M. Efetov
Author for correspondence.
Email: strokovk@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-3061-293X
Russian Federation, Simferopol
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