Can Electroencephalography (EEG) Identify the Different Dimensions of Pain in Fibromyalgia?

Electrophysiological Biomarkers of Persons With Fibromyalgia and Its Relation With the Sensitive-discriminative and Affective-motivational Dimensions of Pain

Studies with quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in people with fibromyalgia showed the existence of distinct patterns of brain electrical activity when compared to healthy individuals. Such dysfunctional patterns may be correlated to clinical symptoms of the syndrome as chronic pain and emotional disorders (depression and anxiety). As chronic pain can be considered a multidimensional symptom, its evaluation should consider beyond others, two main dimensions: the sensitive-discriminative dimension and the affective-motivational dimension. Previous studies have been describing distinct brain areas as neural substrates for processing such dimensions of pain. Thus, the identification of electrophysiological biomarkers (i.e., as qEEG measures) allowing to perform an evaluation between dysfunctional patterns of brain electrical activity and different dimensions of pain seems to be a promising path in the search for a better understanding of the syndrome as well as for more individualized and effective therapeutic approaches. Our objective was to investigate whether dysfunctional patterns of brain electrical activity in frontal and central areas of people with fibromyalgia are differently related to dimensions of pain (sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational) and to emotional disorders (depression and anxiety).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Fibromyalgia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: qEEG

Detailed Description

The study was a pilot study with a cross-sectional and exploratory design carried out from 2020 to 2022. A quantitative electroencephalographic analysis was performed with women with Fibromyalgia and pain-free individuals as a control group, matched for gender and age. The sample was not probabilistic and recruitment occurred in a random manner. All volunteers were recruited from reference services in the state of Pernambuco, referred from other centers as well as through announcements in digital media.

Procedures All procedures were conducted respecting the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and approved by the local ethical committee. Before clinical and sociodemographic evaluation, all volunteers signed a written informed consent, including all information regarding the risks and benefits of their participation in the study. During the study, all individuals with fibromyalgia were instructed not to change their medication use as well as eating habits. Clinical assessments and qEEG data acquisition took place in one single visit to the laboratory lasting around two hours. After signing the written informed consent, all volunteers were taken to an isolated room to perform an EEG evaluation. Then, they underwent sociodemographic and clinical assessments (only individuals with fibromyalgia).

EEG data acquisition and processing For each volunteer, signals were recorded using digital EEG equipment for 120 seconds in an isolated room - without any communication with the external environment - with volunteers rested, seated in a comfortable chair, and with closed eyes. Signal recording was performed through 19 Ag/AgCl electrodes positioned on the scalp following the predetermined points of the international 10-20 system of electroencephalography and, always maintaining a maximum impedance of 10 kΩ. Additionally, a ground electrode was positioned on the lateral third of the right clavicle, while two reference electrodes were positioned on the region of the right and left mastoid processes. A sampling rate for recording the 500 Hz signal was captured by the NeuronSpectrum signal amplifier and recorded by the Neuron-Spectrum/NET omega software. Additionally, the high-pass (0.5 Hz), low-pass (35 Hz), and notch (60Hz; suitable for 220V mains) filters were applied during data acquisition and processing.

Then, the collected data were pre-processed using the EEGLab toolbox in MATLAB® version R2014a software for Windows. In addition, an Independent Component analysis was performed using the Independent Components Analysis (ICA) algorithm to separate the components related to biological artifacts. The rejection of these components was done through the Multiple Artefact Rejection Algorithm (MARA) considering a 50% cutoff point. For time-frequency analysis of the relative spectral power for each epoch, the fast Fourrier transform method was used. The dominant frequency in each patient was identified in the following points of the international 10-20 EEG system: F3, F4, Fz, F7, F8 (frontal area), and C3, C4, Cz (central area) during rest. Spectral power density assessment was also performed, for each frequency band, considering the following bands: delta (0,5 a ≤ 4 Hz); theta ( > 4 a ≤ 8 Hz); alpha (> 8 a ≤13 Hz) e beta (> 13 a ≤ 30 Hz). For relative spectral power distribution calculations, the absolute spectral power of each frequency band was divided by the total power of all bands present in the 0.5-35Hz.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 21

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Pernambuco
    • Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 50740-560
      • Applied Neuroscience Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women with fibromyalgia enrolled according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and 10 healthy volunteers matched by gender and age.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• widespread pain index (WPI) ≥ 7;
• symptom severity scale (SS) = 5;
• WPI between 4-6 and (iv) SS ≥ 9;
• generalized pain, as defined as pain in at least 4 regions of the body;
• having been diagnosed with fibromyalgia at least three months ago.

Exclusion Criteria:

• autoimmune or inflammatory diseases that cause pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or inflammatory bowel disease;
• history of neurological or psychotic disorders;
• cognitive impairment that prevents the conduct of study procedures;
• patients with a history of abusive use of alcohol or other illicit drugs;
• patients who have any contraindication for the use of the qEEG (excessive seborrhoea, scalp infection or pediculosis).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Fibromyalgia; Our sample consisted of 11 women with fibromyalgia enrolled according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Participants were underwent to clinical and electrophysiological assessments using the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and qEEG in frontal (F3, F4, Fz, F7, F8) and central (C3, C4,Cz) areas. qEEG data was collected with patients in resting eyes-closed: the relative spectral power of the frequency bands delta, theta, alpha and beta was evaluated.	Other: qEEG; qEEG data was collected with patients and healthy individuals in resting eyes-closed: the relative spectral power of the frequency bands delta, theta, alpha and beta was evaluated.
Healthy individuals; A control group was enrolled and data was collected from healthy subjects to confirm different patterns of cortical electrical activity in people with fibromyalgia. For that, self-declared healthy and pain-free individuals, matched by gender and age with the women with fibromyalgia included in the sample were recruited through advertising in digital media.	Other: qEEG; qEEG data was collected with patients and healthy individuals in resting eyes-closed: the relative spectral power of the frequency bands delta, theta, alpha and beta was evaluated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
qEEG data	relative spectral power of the frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta)	one day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dimensions of pain	quality dimensions of pain (sensory-discriminatory and affective-motivational dimensions) were evaluated by McGill Pain Questionnaire. The McGill Pain Questionnaire is a multidimensional easy-to-use assessment of pain that consists of 15 groups of representative words, of which 11 make up the sensory category and 4 the affective category. Each group is classified on a 4-point rating scale according to the intensity of each aspect (0 = none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, and 3=severe). Thus, higher scores represent worse perception of pain. Minimum value: 0; Maximum value: 45.	one day
Dimensions of emotional disorders	depression and anxiety were investigated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - HADS. The scale comprises a 14-item self-report instrument, subdivided into two subscales, one for anxiety and another for depression, containing 7 items each. The score is associated with a Likert-type scale that ranges from 0 to 3, with an evaluation of each subscale ranging from 0 to 21 points or a total score ranging from 0 to 42. The higher the score, the greater the anxiety or depression disorder presented by the individual.	one day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kátia Monte-Silva, PhD, PI

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 18, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 18, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): July 27, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 1, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 27, 2023
• Last Verified: July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Chronic pain; Electroencephalogram
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Fibromyalgia; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: Fibro

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No