Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Controls (DNIC): Nociceptive Modulation and Interaction With Neurocognitive Performance in Chronic Pain
NCT ID: NCT01172795
Last Updated: 2010-07-30
Study Results
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Basic Information
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UNKNOWN
100 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2010-07-31
2011-08-31
Brief Summary
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Earlier studies provided evidence for malfunctioning of DNIC in Fibromyalgia (FM) patients. However, the cause of this impairment is not yet elucidated, and further study is required to unravel the pathophysiology of DNIC in FM.
Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis Besides neural mechanisms, also hormonal abnormalities could cause altered pain processing. Cortisol is released in answer to pain to suppress the pain. Given the evidence for hypofunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the lower cortisol release in response to stressors in a proportion of FM patients and in chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD) patients, the relation between pain and cortisol in these patients may be an interesting topic to consider.
Neurocognitive performance Besides chronic pain, people with chronic WAD and FM suffer from severe concentration difficulties and decreased neurocognitive capabilities (reduced reaction time, short term memory deficits etc. The decreased neurocognitive performance is known to be related to pain severity in various chronic pain populations. It is hypothesized that malfunctioning of descending inhibitory pathways and subsequent chronic pain experience precludes optimal neurocognitive performance.
Objectives The present investigation addresses the (patho)physiological mechanisms of DNIC in chronic pain populations.
1. Firstly, patients with FM, chronic WAD and healthy controls are compared regarding functioning of DNIC, cortisol levels and response and neurocognitive performance (case-control).
2. Secondly, the possible interaction between the functioning of DNIC, cortisol and neurocognitive performance is studied in patients with FM, WAD and healthy control subjects (cross-sectional).
3. Thirdly, to examine whether a fatiguing neurocognitive stressor changes DNIC and cortisol levels in patients with FM, chronic WAD or healthy sedentary control subjects.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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CASE_CROSSOVER
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Study Groups
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healthy controls
Relaxation session
30 minutes relaxation session (audiotape)
Neurocognitive test battery
the psychomotor vigilance task, span task and the stroop task on computer
chronic whiplash patients
Relaxation session
30 minutes relaxation session (audiotape)
Neurocognitive test battery
the psychomotor vigilance task, span task and the stroop task on computer
Fibromyalgia patients
Relaxation session
30 minutes relaxation session (audiotape)
Neurocognitive test battery
the psychomotor vigilance task, span task and the stroop task on computer
Interventions
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Relaxation session
30 minutes relaxation session (audiotape)
Neurocognitive test battery
the psychomotor vigilance task, span task and the stroop task on computer
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* 30 WAD group: comply with the criteria of the Quebec Task Force (grade I to III)
* 40 healthy pain-free control subjects
* Dutch speaking
* aged between 18 and 65 years.
Exclusion Criteria
* WAD patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for FM
* healthy control subjects cannot suffer any pain complaints
* cannot be pregnant or until 1 year postnatal
* asked to stop analgesics 48 hours prior to study participation, not to undertake physical exertion, and to refrain from consuming caffeine, alcohol or nicotine on the day of the experiment.
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Research Foundation Flanders
OTHER
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
OTHER
Locations
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels, Brussels Capital, Belgium
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Mira Meeus, PhD
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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B-Cognitive tests
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id