Cognition, Pain and Wellbeing (CPW)

May 6, 2024 updated by: Ana Valdes, University of Nottingham

The Link Between Cognitive Function and Chronic Pain: An Observational Cohort Study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and for 4 in 10 people pain from OA is not adequately controlled. The pain experience of people suffering from chronic pain largely depends on their individual perception of pain and on brain functions, in particular what is called "cognitive" functions. Cognitive functions include memory, attention, organisation and planning, task initiation, regulation of emotions and reflection of oneself and are important for everyday tasks, such as following a conversation or a story in a book or on TV, learning new things, remembering old and new information and making decisions. Good cognition predicts the risk of developing chronic pain after a painful event, such as surgery. Chronic pain patients report numerous cognitive impairments, with attention and memory being the two most prominent that can persist even after the original cause of pain has been treated. Little evidence exists regarding the nature and magnitude of these deficits and their underlying brain and psychological mechanisms in chronic knee OA. The investigators want to understand which cognitive functions and to what extent are associated with pain in patients with knee OA.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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.

Detailed Description

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and for 4 in 10 people pain from OA is not adequately controlled. The pain experience of people suffering from chronic pain largely depends on their individual perception of pain and on brain functions, in particular what is called "cognitive" functions. Cognitive functions include memory, attention, organisation and planning, task initiation, regulation of emotions and reflection of oneself and are important for everyday tasks, such as following a conversation or a story in a book or on TV, learning new things, remembering old and new information and making decisions. Good cognition predicts the risk of developing chronic pain after a painful event, such as surgery. Chronic pain patients report numerous cognitive impairments, with attention and memory being the two most prominent that can persist even after the original cause of pain has been treated. Little evidence exists regarding the nature and magnitude of these deficits and their underlying brain and psychological mechanisms in chronic knee OA. The investigators want to understand which cognitive functions and to what extent are associated with pain in patients with knee OA. Identifying specific domains of cognitive function affected by chronic pain has a clinical utility; specific domains regulate certain aspects of activities of daily living, such as managing personal finances, grocery shopping, remembering to take medications and, thus, dealing with pain early in the disease course could prevent subsequent cognitive loss and long-term pain. To do this the investigators will examine the link between measures of pain and measures of cognition in people with knee OA. The investigators propose to measure knee pain, physical function, sleep quality and overall wellbeing with questionnaires and pain sensitivity measures. The investigators will measure cognition with questionnaires and computer-based tasks testing aspects of cognitive function, including memory and attention. The investigators will compare the questionnaire and pain sensitivity measures with questionnaire and measures of cognitive function in the same participants. The investigators will include tests of various aspects of a person's memory that will facilitate the establishment of which aspects are related to chronic pain. The investigators hypothesise that chronic pain is linked to specific cognitive deficits in patients with knee OA and managing pain, for example, with mild to moderate targeted exercise and healthy diet, may limit the risk of memory loss and dementia and, in turn, predict better treatment outcomes.

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.
Observational

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.
8

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

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

40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be recruited from previous studies undertaken by the Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, who have expressed an interest in future research. Responders from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort study (IMHWCS, n ~ 5,000) and Knee Pain and related health In the Community cohort study (KPIC, n ~ 3,000) will be sent an invitation letter and participant information sheet (PIS) with details about the Cognition, Pain and Wellbeing study. A telephone screening will be then done to confirm their eligibility for the study and their interest in participating and they will be booked an appointment for a single visit in Academic Rheumatology.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 40 years and onward
  • Able to read and write English
  • Have English as their first language

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Persons who do not adequately understand verbal explanations of written information in English, or who have special communication needs or whose English is not their first language
  • Dialysis patients or on home oxygen
  • Terminal illness
  • Serious mental illness
  • Dementia

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Healthy controls
Participants with the relevant condition

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
Pain sensitivity measures
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 10 minutes
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) will be used to assess pain sensitivity with measures, such as pressure pain threshold (PPT). PPT is a valid measure of tenderness around the knee. QST is used to quantify pain perception and it is an objective measure of peripheral sensitisation (increased tenderness around the knee) and central sensitisation (increased pain perception in areas away from the knee). QST will be used to identify different pain phenotypes among participants and it will enable us to quantify peripheral and central sensitisation components of pain. Pain phenotypes will be then correlated to cognitive measures.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 10 minutes
Pain sensitivity measures
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 4 minutes
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) will be used to assess pain sensitivity with measures, such as temporal summation (TS), TS is a measure of central sensitization. QST is used to quantify pain perception and it is an objective measure of peripheral sensitisation (increased tenderness around the knee) and central sensitisation (increased pain perception in areas away from the knee). QST will be used to identify different pain phenotypes among participants and it will enable us to quantify peripheral and central sensitisation components of pain. Pain phenotypes will be then correlated to cognitive measures.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 4 minutes
Pain sensitivity measures
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 6 minutes
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) will be used to assess pain sensitivity with measures, such as conditioned pain modulation (CPM). CPM assesses the function of endogenous pain inhibitory pathways. QST is used to quantify pain perception and it is an objective measure of peripheral sensitisation (increased tenderness around the knee) and central sensitisation (increased pain perception in areas away from the knee). QST will be used to identify different pain phenotypes among participants and it will enable us to quantify peripheral and central sensitisation components of pain. Pain phenotypes will be then correlated to cognitive measures.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 6 minutes
Pain severity measure
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit : approximately 5-10 minutes
The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), which is a self-administered 24 items questionnaire with three subscales assessing pain, stiffness and physical function, is an extensively utilised tool for the evaluation of hip and knee OA and will be used in the current study.
Conducted once, at assessment visit : approximately 5-10 minutes
Cognitive function
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit : approximately 40 minutes
Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (objective measure) including tests of prefrontal-dependent sustained visual attention (Rapid Visual Information Processing, RVP, 7 min), attentional set shifting (Intra-/ Extra- Dimensional Set Shift, IED, 7 min) and hippocampus-dependent paired associate learning (Visual Learning Paired Associates Learning, PAL, 8 min) will be used. Other CANTAB tests will be included for comparison (reaction time test, RTI, 3 min; Stroop-like test, MTT, 8 min; spatial working memory test, SWM, 4 min).
Conducted once, at assessment visit : approximately 40 minutes
Cognitive function
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 8 minutes
Questionnaire cognitive measures, including the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) will be used.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 8 minutes
Cognitive function
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 7 minutes
Questionnaire cognitive measures including the Cognitive reflection test (CRT) will be used.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 7 minutes
Neuropathic pain quality: PD-Q
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit : approximately 5-10 minutes
The PainDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q) is a self-report questionnaire developed to discriminate between nociceptive and neuropathic pain. It has been further modified (mPDQ) for use among specific pain groups, for example, knee pain. Neuropathic pain symptoms as identified with the mPDQ have been found to correlate with signs of central sensitisation in OA, as identified with QST.
Conducted once, at assessment visit : approximately 5-10 minutes

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
Premorbid IQ
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 10-15 minutes
The National Adult Reading Test (NART) will serve as a measure of general premorbid IQ.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 10-15 minutes
Depression/Anxiety
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-10 minutes
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a 14-item measure designed to assess anxiety and depression symptoms will be also used.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-10 minutes
Sleep Quality: PSQI
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-10 minutes
Sleep disturbances are common within people experiencing chronic pain and are associated with impaired cognitive function both in males and females. For that reason, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) will be utilised to assess sleeping patterns in people with chronic pain.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-10 minutes
Physical function
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 6 minutes
Functionality testing will be done using the 'time up and go' (TUG) test.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 6 minutes
Physical function
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5 minutes
Functionality testing will be done using the 30-second sit to stand test (30CST)
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5 minutes
Altruism/Decision making
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-10 minutes
Participants will also complete a Dictator Game (DG) to explore the role of altruism in motivating subjects' behaviour in two independent settings, whereby participants will be given money (£10) and can donate some, all or none to: 1. an anonymous participant (75) and 2. a charity organisation.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-10 minutes
Body mass index (BMI)
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5 minutes
Clinical assessment of body weight and height to determine BMI.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5 minutes
Inflammatory biomarkers
Time Frame: Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-15 minutes for blood collection.
Blood samples will be collected and serum sent for laboratory analysis to determine inflammatory biomarkers using RNA tubes.
Conducted once, at assessment visit approximately 5-15 minutes for blood collection.
biomarkers of insulin resistance
Time Frame: Once pre-assessment visit Urine sample will be collected at home and handed in at attendance of the visit 5 minutes
Urine samples will be collected and sent for laboratory analysis to determine biomarkers of insulin resistance
Once pre-assessment visit Urine sample will be collected at home and handed in at attendance of the visit 5 minutes
gut microbiome measures.
Time Frame: Once post-assessment visit Faecal samples will be done home and sent back in prepaid envelope. 15 minutes
Faecal (optional) samples will be collected and sent for laboratory analysis to determine gut microbiome measures.
Once post-assessment visit Faecal samples will be done home and sent back in prepaid envelope. 15 minutes

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 Nottingham

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: Ana M Valdes, PhD, University of Nottingham

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 (Actual)

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.
November 7, 2019

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, 2020

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, 2020

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).
April 22, 2020

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.
November 2, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

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.
November 9, 2020

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 8, 2024

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 6, 2024

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, 2024

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.
  • 1 (Mobile Health and Wellness Program)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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