Neuroimaging and Biomarkers in Chronic Visceral Pain

May 7, 2018 updated by: Kirsten Tillisch, MD, University of California, Los Angeles

Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Mind-Body Treatment Response in Chronic Visceral Pain

The purpose of this study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate brain resting state networks, responses to abdominal stimuli and the effect of MBSR Training on these measures. The goal of this study is to identify biomarkers of IBS and assess the responsiveness these biomarkers after MBSR Training. A biomarker, or biological marker, is in general a substance or measure used as an indicator of a biological state. It is a characteristic that is measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, disease processes, or responses to a therapeutic intervention, in this case MBSR.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common chronic visceral pain disorder ranking among the most common of all persistent pain disorders with prevalence rates of 8-12% of the population.3 Diagnostic criteria for IBS include persistent abdominal pain and/or discomfort associated with changes in bowel habit. In the majority of patients, symptoms of other co-morbid pain conditions, such as epigastric pain (functional dyspepsia), pelvic pain (IC/PBS) and musculoskeletal pain (FM) are reported. Estimates are that >50% of the U.S. workforce experiences some type of pain and 13% lose productive work time due to pain over a 2 week period, leading to over 60 billion dollars per year in lost productivity costs.4 There are no generally agreed upon biomarkers for IBS, and diagnoses are exclusively based on subjective symptom criteria. As with most of the persistent pain disorders, IBS patients and their providers have increasingly embraced a biopsychosocial model incorporating psychological and social factors along with physiologic factors, and this forms the basis for integrative treatment approaches. This multimodal approach often incorporates Mind-Body treatments, and there is a growing literature showing clinical efficacy in IBS for interventions incorporating such Mind-Body approaches as meditation, hypnosis, yoga and cognitive therapy.5 However, there is little understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying mind-body therapies, and for this reason optimization of the treatments for specific individuals and populations is difficult.

In this project we aim to use neuroimaging based biomarkers of IBS to examine which of these physiological measures show changes specific to a mind-body treatment with previously documented efficacy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training or MBSR. MBSR was chosen as a target treatment for several reasons: Recent clinical trial data suggests there is efficacy in improving IBS symptoms with MBSR, it has demonstrated prior success with other chronic pain conditions and there is considerable literature on meditation associated brain changes.

The primary Objective is to validate optimal biomarker candidates by assessment of treatment responsiveness in IBS patients following Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). The secondary objectives are to determine the generality of optimal biomarkers from Aim 1 and 2 and look at factors such as sex, age, co-morbid pain or mood symptoms, and/or baseline disease severity as moderators of the performance of candidate biomarkers.

Also, exploratory analyses will be performed to assess the effect of an 8 week MBSR training on measures of disease cognition, quality of life and mood defined by pre and post test scores on the behavioral measures listed in the study methods.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
119

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
        • Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 50 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients must meet the Rome III criteria for IBS and lack red flag symptoms, such as weight loss, bloody stool, and fever. In the setting of clinical uncertainty on the part of the examining gastroenterologist, laboratory testing or prior medical records may be requested.
  2. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms, ie. dyspepsia or heartburn, are acceptable as long as IBS is their most bothersome symptom complex.
  3. Subject cannot have completed structured training in MBSR or other mindfulness or meditation.
  4. Subject cannot be currently practicing MBSR.
  5. A minimal severity score of 75 on the IBS-SSS at screening will be required to ensure at least mild-moderate symptoms at baseline.
  6. Literate in English
  7. Ambulatory without a need for assistive devices.
  8. Able to participate in the sitting and mild yoga positions required for the MBSR course.
  9. Right handed due to importance of laterality in brain imaging analysis
  10. Not pregnant, nursing or postpartum.
  11. No metals in body, including ferrous metallic implants and tattoos
  12. No history of claustrophobia.
  13. Able to lay still on back for extended period of time ( about 90 minutes).
  14. if unable to participate in the MRI portion of the study you may be eligible to come to the MBSR classes at no cost if you agree to complete the classes, homework and on-line questionnaires.

Exclusion criteria:

  1. Planned major medical intervention in the next 6 months (e.g. surgery), or surgery in the past 6 months.
  2. Presence of a significant and ongoing medical problem that would interfere with participation in the study or testing the study hypotheses (e.g. major heart disease, neurological disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, etc).
  3. Presence of a major psychiatric diagnosis such as schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or Obsessive Compulsive disorder. However, subjects with a history of DSMIV diagnosis of Anxiety or Depression, in whom symptoms are not active will be allowed but noted for post-hoc analysis.
  4. use of centrally acting medications that will interfere with the neuroimaging testing (e.g. narcotic medications). As in past studies we will allow subjects taking stable doses of antidepressant medications (TCAs, SSRIs, SNRIs) for at least six months prior to study to participate.
  5. Body Mass Index greater than 30.
  6. Current or past history of chronic pain syndrome other than IBS in the IBS group (pain >6 months at any location).
  7. History of gastrointestinal surgery other than uncomplicated appendectomy or cholecystectomy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: NA
  • Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
EXPERIMENTAL: mindfulness treatment
Mindfulness based stress reduction is the intervention in this single arm trial
Behavioral: Mindfulness based Stress Reduction Training (MBSR)
8 (2 hr) classes weekly of MBSR and required homework of MBSR practice approximately 30 minutes per day.
Other Names:
  • MBSR
  • Spastic colon
  • Irritable colon
  • Mindfulness Meditation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Validate Optimal Biomarker candidates
Time Frame: After MBSR training (8 weeks).
To validate optimal brain biomarker candidates by assessment of treatment responsiveness in IBS patients following and 8 week course in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
After MBSR training (8 weeks).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Specificity, generality and moderation of biomarker response to MBSR treatment.
Time Frame: Post MBSR training at 3 month follow up.

Specificity of biomarker response to MBSR measured by changes in selected biomarker candidates correlation w/improvement in mindfulness at end of treatment & 3-month f/u.

Determine generality of optimal biomarkers via examination of factors such as sex, age, co-morbid pain,mood, and/or baseline disease severity, as moderators of biomarker performance.

Moderation of biomarker performance by symptoms: Disease severity, duration, and comorbid symptoms.
Post MBSR training at 3 month follow up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of California, Los Angeles

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Kirsten Tillisch, MD, University of California, Los Angeles

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2013

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 20, 2016

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 20, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 17, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 17, 2012

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 21, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 14, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 7, 2018

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R01AT007137 (NIH)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Neuroimaging data will be shared after initial analysis and publication at pain.ucla.edu to members of the Pain repository

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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