The Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) in Patients With CRPS

NCT ID: NCT01618578

Last Updated: 2012-06-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 69 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2010-05-31
• Study Completion Date: 2011-11-30

Brief Summary

The present study investigates by means of the rubber hand illusion body image stability and sense of body ownership in patients with CRPS of the upper limb compared to patients with unilateral pain of origin other than CRPS and age and sex-matched healthy subjects.

Detailed Description

In patients with CRPS of the upper limb distortions of body representation and impairments of sense of body ownership are well-known. To investigate the body schema and body image stability of these patients in comparison to patients with upper limb pain of origin other than CRPS and healthy subjects, we conducted a series of rubber hand illusions. This well - established paradigm is elicited by visuo-tactile stimulation of one´s own real hand and a visible hand and forearm prosthesis. The present study investigates 1) if and how far patients with CRPS are susceptible to experience the illusion 2) how far the illusion strength differs between CRPS and patients with unilateral pain of the upper limb of other origin and healthy subjects 3) how far parameters, e.g. neglect-like severity symptoms, body plasticity, empathy, duration of disease and pain intensity influence the illusion strength.

Conditions

CRPS; Unilateral Limb Pain of Origin Other Than CRPS

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Patients with CRPS

24 patients with CRPS of the upper limb type 1 were included into the study.

rubber hand illusion

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

There were three consecutive trials of the RHI:

1. one control trial: asynchronous condition (3 Min.)

2. two experimental trials (conducted on both hands):synchronous condition (3 Min.),additionally watching the prosthesis being threatened (20 sec.)

Patients with unilateral upper limb pain

21 patients with unilateral upper limb pain served as controls.

rubber hand illusion

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

There were three consecutive trials of the RHI:

1. one control trial: asynchronous condition (3 Min.)

2. two experimental trials (conducted on both hands):synchronous condition (3 Min.),additionally watching the prosthesis being threatened (20 sec.)

healthy subjects

24 healthy subjects were age- and sex matched to patients with CRPS.

rubber hand illusion

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

There were three consecutive trials of the RHI:

1. one control trial: asynchronous condition (3 Min.)

2. two experimental trials (conducted on both hands):synchronous condition (3 Min.),additionally watching the prosthesis being threatened (20 sec.)

Interventions

rubber hand illusion

There were three consecutive trials of the RHI:

1. one control trial: asynchronous condition (3 Min.)

2. two experimental trials (conducted on both hands):synchronous condition (3 Min.),additionally watching the prosthesis being threatened (20 sec.)

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

every participant:

• aged > 18 years
• written informed consent
• free to withdraw participation at any time
• adequate understanding of the german language

Patients with CRPS:

• patients with CRPS type 1 of the upper limb
• clinical symptoms were diagnosed on the basis of the recently modified diagnostic research criteria (Harden, Bruehl et al., 2007)
• proved by typical enhancement in the late phase of the 99m-technetium-triple-phase bone skeleton scintigraphy (Wüppenhorst, Maier et al., 2010)

Patients with unilateral pain of the upper limb:

• unilateral pain
• pain of origin other than CRPS

Healthy subjects:

• age and sex matched to patients with CRPS
• checked by the DFNS IMI questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria

every participant:

• inadequate understanding of the german language
• missing informed consent
• diabetes mellitus

Patients with CRPS:

-CRPS Type 2

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Ruhr University of Bochum

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Christoph Maier, Prof. Dr.

Prof. Dr. med. (Head of the pain clinic of the Bergmannsheil University Hospital)

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Christoph Maier, Prof. Dr.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Head of the pain clinic of the Bergmannsheil University Hospital

Locations

Pain clinic of the Bergmannsheil University Hospital

Bochum, , Germany

Countries

Germany

Other Identifiers

RHI2010

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id