- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT02347579
Neurophysiological Basis of Rehabilitation in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type I and Chronic Low Back Pain (BrainEXPain)
Complex Regional Pain syndrome Type I (CRPS-I) is a chronic progressive disease. Patients experience dramatic decline of overall well-being, despite the absence of any apparent physical cause. The main symptoms are hypersensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia) and experiencing normal tactile stimulation as painful (allodynia) in the absence of peripheral nerve damage. The debate on the aetiology of CRPS-I is still open.
The therapy offered to CRPS-I patients is diverse and can involve invasive and non-invasive interventions. Current (inter)national guidelines recommend physiotherapy as the best non-invasive treatment for rehabilitation. Recently, cognitive and behavioural Graded Exposure in Vivo (GEXP) therapy aimed at reducing pain-related fear was found to be effective (De Jong et al. 2005), and more effective than standard physical therapy (ReMOVE study, articles in preparation). By reducing pain-related fear EXP might reconcile motor output and sensory feedback.
Another type of pain is lower back pain (LBP), which affects 70% to 85% of general population, but usually heals within 12 weeks in 90% of patients. The rest of the patients suffer from intractable, chronic LBP despite no evident organic abnormality. Research shows that also in these patients cognitive and behavioural aspects of pain are important and related to physical performance and self-reported disability (Vlaeyen et al., 2000). Several studies have demonstrated the success of GEXP in this patient group: GEXP resulted in improvements in pain-related fear, catastrophizing, performance of daily relevant activities, and in pain intensity (Leeuw et al., 2008).
This study aims to investigate the effect of GEXP on brain regions involved in the processing of harmless tactile stimuli in CRPS-I and CLBP patients, as well as its effect on tactile discrimination thresholds. We hypothesize that GEXP will induce 1) an improvement of tactile discrimination thresholds, 2) a functional reorganization of primary and secondary somatosensory cortex (in regions related to the affected limb in CRPS-I; and to the back in LBP), 3) changes in activation of emotional brain circuits during non-noxious stimulation, 4) changes in resting state connectivity between emotional and sensory brain areas, 5) changes in measures reflecting white matter integrity. No systematic changes are expected in the healthy controls.
Patients diagnosed with CRPS-I and CLBP will participate in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) experiment. In this observational study, we examine the effects of GEXP treatment that all patients receive as part of usual care. Anatomical as well as diffusion-weighted and T2*-weighted (Blood oxygenation level dependent) MR images will be acquired. The study has a 3x4 split plot design with group (CRPS-I patients and CLBP receiving GEXP treatment / healthy controls) as between-subjects variable and time (pre-, during, post-treatment and follow-up) as within-subject variable.
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
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Maastricht, Netherlands, 6200 MD
- Maastricht University
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Sampling Method
Study Population
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
CRPS-I patients:
A clinical diagnosis of CRPS-I according to 'the Budapest criteria' for research purposes (Harden et al., 2007):
- Continuing pain, which is disproportionate to any inciting event
Must report at least one symptom in all of the four following categories:
- Sensory: Reports of hyperesthesia and/or allodynia
- Vasomotor: Reports of temperature asymmetry and/or skin color changes and/or skin color asymmetry
- Sudomotor / Edema: Reports of edema and/or sweating changes and/or sweating asymmetry
- Motor / Trophic: Reports of decreased range of motion and/or motor dysfunction (weakness, tremor, dystonia) and/or trophic changes (hair, nail, skin)
Must display at least one sign at time of evaluation in two or more of the following categories:
- Sensory: Evidence of hyperalgesia (to pinprick) and/or allodynia (to light touch and/or temperature sensation and/or deep somatic pressure and/or joint movement)
- Vasomotor: Evidence of temperature asymmetry and/or skin color changes and/or asymmetry
- Sudomotor / Edema: Evidence of edema and/or sweating changes and/or sweating asymmetry
- Motor / Trophic: Evidence of decreased range of motion and/or motor dysfunction (weakness, tremor, dystonia) and/or trophic changes (hair, nail, skin)
- There is no other diagnosis that better explains the signs and symptoms
- Unilateral localization on upper or lower extremity
CLBP patients:
- Experience of non-specific lower back pain for at least three months
- No other diagnosis better explaining the signs and symptoms. both patient groups:
- Report of substantial fear of movement/(re)-injury
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Stable medication
healthy controls:
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Matched for age, gender and handedness
Exclusion Criteria:
patients and healthy controls:
- Neuropathy of the upper or lower extremities
- MRI incompatible health condition (e. g. pacemaker, metal prosthetic devices)
- Psychiatric condition and ongoing medication that would alter emotional/sensory processing
Previous tactile impairment in the upper or lower extremity caused by:
- damage to the sensory apparatus
- CNS lesion
healthy controls:
• (history of) CRPS or other chronic pain syndromes
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Observational Models: Case-Control
- Time Perspectives: Prospective
Cohorts and Interventions
Group / Cohort |
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Patients with CRPS
Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type I
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Patients with CLBP
Patients with chronic low back pain
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Healthy controls
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Time Frame |
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Change from baseline blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal (fMRI) during tactile stimulation and during rest
Time Frame: participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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Change from baseline diffusion MRI measures (fractional anisotropy, neurite density, orientation dispersion)
Time Frame: participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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Change from baseline tactile discrimination threshold in mm
Time Frame: participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Time Frame |
---|---|
Change from baseline pain-related fear (TSK, PHODA)
Time Frame: participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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Change from baseline pain catastrophizing (PCS)
Time Frame: participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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participants will be assessed repeatedly during the treatment; at baseline, at 5/6 weeks after start of treatment, at end of treatment (approximately 10 weeks after start) and at follow-up (6 months after end of treatment)
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Change from baseline pain intensity level as assessed on visual analog scale
Time Frame: daily
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daily
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Collaborators and Investigators
Collaborators
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Actual)
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Estimate)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- NL35546.068.11
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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