An assessment of sensory sensitivity in women suffering from depression using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Abstract

Background Perception is the process or result of the process arising from the mental interpretation of the phenomena occurring, therefore it depends not only on physiology, but is also psychologically and socially conditioned. The aim of this study was to assess if there is a difference in the sensory sensitivity to an electrical stimulus in women suffering from depression and what the hedonic rating is of the lived experience of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Methods The depression group: 44 women, who were inpatients treated for depression at the Psychiatric Ward in the Clinical Hospital, and the control group: 41 women, matched by the age, height and weight, with no mental illness. Measures: threshold for sensing current, type of sensation evoked, hedonic rating. Results Median sensing threshold of electric current (depression vs. control: 7.75 mA vs. 8.35 mA; no significant), type of sensation evoked (depression vs. control: tingling 90.9% vs. 92.7%, no significant), hedonic rating (depression vs. control: unpleasant 11.4% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.003), hedonic rating (mildly ill vs. moderately ill vs. markedly ill: unpleasant 5.3% vs. 6.3% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.066). Conclusions Women suffering from depression exhibit a similar threshold of sensitivity to an electrical stimulus as mentally healthy women, however the hedonic rating of the stimulus acting on the skin in the group of clinically depressed women was more negative than in the mentally healthy subjects. The stimulus was described as ‘unpleasant’ for many of the mentally unhealthy women. The most negative sensations related to the electrical stimulus were experienced by women with the highest severity of mental illness according to The Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale.

Effectiveness of Myofascial Release (MFR) vs. High-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Relief and Functional Improvement in College Students With Trapezius Myalgia

“…Gibson et al in their study found that TENS also helped in relieving neuropathic pain, while Witkoś et al found that application of TENS relaxed the muscles and therefore, even helped in reducing anxiety and depression in such patients. Witkos et al in their study stated that the length of depression had no effect on the current-induced stimulus [ 14 , 15 ]. The study's purpose was to investigate and assess the effects of MFR and high-frequency TENS in participants with trapezius myalgia.…”

The Influence of Skin Parameters and Body Composition on the Tolerance of Pain Stimulus Generated During Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) in Women - Pilot Study

“…The perception of pain, especially in response to electrical stimulation, is highly subjective and can be influenced by several physiological and psychological factors. 6,7 In women, these factors are further compounded by hormonal variations, skin characteristics, and differences in body composition. Studies have shown that hormonal fluctuations can affect pain perception and tolerance.…”