There is growing evidence that provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), a frequent and debilitating condition, is characterized by central sensitization. This study aimed to examine predictive factors of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) efficacy in this chronic pain population. Exploratory analysis derived from a randomized controlled trial was performed to assess predictors of pain reduction among 39 women with PVD who received 10 daily sessions of either active or sham tDCS. Clinical characteristics (e.g. pain intensity, duration and pain sensitivity) and psychosexual factors (e.g. pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear, anxiety, depressive symptoms and vaginal penetration cognitions) were assessed at baseline and used to predict tDCS response at 3-month follow-up. Analysis revealed that higher depressive symptoms and lower negative self-image cognitions were significant predictors of pain reduction at follow-up and accounted for 62.3% of the variance in the active tDCS group. Higher genital incompatibility cognitions were related to poorer response, regardless of treatment group. These findings suggest that women with PVD presenting higher depressive symptoms and lower levels of negative self-image cognitions could derive greater benefits from tDCS. These results suggest that tDCS could be effective in a subgroup of women with PVD - a possibility worth exploring with future prospective larger studies.

越来越多的证据表明诱发性前庭痛 (PVD) 是一种常见且使人衰弱的疾病，其特征是中枢敏感。本研究旨在检查经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS) 在这种慢性疼痛人群中的疗效的预测因素。进行了一项随机对照试验的探索性分析，以评估每天接受 10 次主动或假 tDCS 治疗的 39 名 PVD ​​女性疼痛减轻的预测因素。在基线评估临床特征（例如疼痛强度、持续时间和疼痛敏感性）和性心理因素（例如疼痛灾难性、与疼痛相关的恐惧、焦虑、抑郁症状和阴道渗透认知），并用于预测 3 个月后的 tDCS 反应 -向上。分析显示，较高的抑郁症状和较低的负面自我形象认知是随访时疼痛减轻的重要预测因素，占活动 tDCS 组方差的 62.3%。无论治疗组如何，较高的生殖器不相容性认知与较差的反应有关。这些发现表明，患有 PVD ​​的女性表现出较高的抑郁症状和较低的负面自我形象认知水平，可以从 tDCS 中获得更大的好处。这些结果表明 tDCS 可能对 PVD ​​女性亚组有效——这是一种值得在未来前瞻性更大研究中探索的可能性。无论治疗组如何，较高的生殖器不相容性认知与较差的反应有关。这些发现表明，患有 PVD ​​的女性表现出较高的抑郁症状和较低的负面自我形象认知水平，可以从 tDCS 中获得更大的好处。这些结果表明 tDCS 可能对 PVD ​​女性亚组有效——这是一种值得在未来前瞻性更大研究中探索的可能性。无论治疗组如何，较高的生殖器不相容性认知与较差的反应有关。这些发现表明，患有 PVD ​​的女性表现出较高的抑郁症状和较低的负面自我形象认知水平，可以从 tDCS 中获得更大的好处。这些结果表明 tDCS 可能对 PVD ​​女性亚组有效——这是一种值得在未来前瞻性更大研究中探索的可能性。