Extending the evidence for Scrambler Therapy to reduce pain in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Int Rev Psychiatry. 2026 Jun 5:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2026.2682198. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) significantly burdens cancer patients, often leading to treatment interruptions. Scrambler Therapy (ST)-a noninvasive cutaneous electroanalgesia device-has emerged as a promising alternative for treating CIPN pain. This retrospective chart review evaluated ST's effectiveness in a naturalistic population of 52 consecutively treated patients to determine the necessary session count, analgesic durability, and whether cancer type or chemotherapy agent affected clinical outcome. Results indicated that 51.9% of patients achieved a full response, defined as a pain reduction of 50% or greater, while 11.5% saw a partial response. On average, four sessions were required to reach clinical improvement. Pain scores decreased progressively across the series, suggesting a cumulative and durable analgesic effect. Notably, both the specific chemotherapy agent and the cancer diagnosis significantly influenced the likelihood of benefit, possibly due to varying peripheral and central mechanisms of neurotoxicity and drug dosage levels. These findings validate Scrambler Therapy as a viable intervention for CIPN and highlight the importance of patient selection based on oncological history. The sustained relief observed across sessions suggests that ST provides an increasingly stable benefit for those suffering from chronic treatment-related pain.

PMID:42246941 | DOI:10.1080/09540261.2026.2682198