Supraspinal Processing of Sensory Aspects of Pain

Launched by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, CINCINNATI · Apr 12, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the brain processes different types of chronic pain in children and adolescents. Researchers want to understand if there are common brain systems involved in various pain conditions, such as migraines, abdominal pain, and fibromyalgia. They are also interested in figuring out what might help kids recover from chronic pain and how pain can spread in the body. To gather this information, participants will undergo brain scans using a method called functional MRI (fMRI), sensory tests to measure how they feel pain, and psychological assessments to understand their mental health.

Eligible participants for this study are children and teenagers aged 10 to 17 who have been diagnosed with specific types of chronic pain. They should be stable on their current medications for at least four weeks before joining the study. To ensure safety, there are certain exclusions, such as having metal objects in the body or certain medical conditions that might interfere with the tests. If chosen to participate, kids can expect to engage in various assessments that will help researchers learn more about chronic pain and ultimately improve treatment options for young patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients will need a diagnosis of a chronic pain derived congruent with ICD-11 criteria related to headache (migraine, daily headache), abdominal (FAPD), localized MSK (single limb/joint, low back or chest pain), diffuse MSK (widespread MSK pain), or CRPS
• • If on medications, they need to be on stable doses of prescribed pain and/or psychiatric medications for 4 weeks before the baseline study visit.
• • Male or female, age 10 -17 (inclusive)
• • English speaking, able to complete interviews and questionnaires in English
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Weight/size incompatible with MRI scanner
• • Orthodontic braces, metallic or electronic implants, or other metal objects in the body which obscure or interfere with the MRI, or pose a risk from heating, movement, or malfunction in the MRI environment
• • Claustrophobia
• • Youth who are pregnant
• • Any comorbid rheumatic disease, diagnosis of epilepsy, other neurological diseases, or medical condition (e.g. diabetes, cancer, IBD)
• • Present psychiatric disease as defined by DSM IV (e.g. psychosis, bipolar disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder), alcohol or drug dependence, or documented developmental delays or impairments (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, or mental retardation) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements or safe participation in the study
• • Skin conditions or past skin damage on the arms or legs in or near sites of sensory testing
• • Outside the age range (9 years old or younger; 18 years or older) at the time of consent
• • History of \> 1 month opioid treatment.