The Reciprocal Relations Between Psychosocial Characteristics and the Progression of Vestibulodynia

NCT ID: NCT02892214

Last Updated: 2022-04-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

113 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-11-30

Study Completion Date

2021-12-31

Brief Summary

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The proposed study will evaluate how personality characteristics, cognitive factors and the emotional and behavioral responses of patients with provoked vestibulodynia (localized provoked vulvodynia) influence the natural history of the syndrome, patients' adherence to therapeutic interventions, provoked pain levels, pelvic floor rehabilitation, emotional health and sexual functioning.

Detailed Description

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Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is the term describing a syndrome of provoked, localized allodynia of the vestibule of the vulva, not explained by another condition, and lasting more than 3 months. PVD is not a defined disease but rather a symptom. It is thought that PVD represent a group of distinct disorders that have been classified together because they produce pain in the same anatomic location.

Studies found that different factors such as genetic, inflammation, recurrent vaginitis, allergy, trauma, emotional and neural may be involved in the development of PVD.

Treatment of PVD is generally predicated on a trial and error basis, because the pathogenesis is not defined. The result is that many forms of therapeutic interventions have been used, yet the evidence remains largely inconclusive, the response rates varies considerably, and many women do not respond to any of the treatments. It is therefore important to recognize which factors mediate the syndrome's severity, and influence the effectiveness of treatments.

The proposed study will evaluate how different patients' characteristics (personality, cognitive) and responses (emotional and behavioral) influence the natural history of the syndrome and the response to treatment. The study is based on the bio-psycho-social model and the adult attachment theory, which integrates psychosocial factors to define susceptibility to acquire pain disorders and predict response to therapy. According to this model, choosing effective coping strategy during a crisis and receiving support from a spouse are vital for recovery.

The study aim to:

1. Characterize interactions between attachment patterns, personality types, cognitive factors (catastrophization, coherence, and partner's support), emotional factors (coping strategies, emotional stress and satisfaction from intimate relationship) to pain levels, pelvic floor hypertonicity, sexual function and patient's emotional health.
2. Examine whether treatments' results are influenced by personality, relationship, cognitive, emotional and behavioral characteristics of the patient.
3. Recognize factors that influence the extent of adherence to treatment.
4. Characterize patients' profile in regard to successful outcome.

Methods Patients will be recruited from the clinic for vulvovaginal disorders in Clalit Healthcare services in Jerusalem. The diagnostic procedures, patients' sub-classification and the proposed treatments in the current protocol are identical to those currently used in the clinic. Each patient will undergo a standard evaluation which includes: detailed history intake, vulvar and vaginal examination, evaluation of vestibular tenderness (Q tip test), pelvic floor musculature tenderness examination, vaginal pH measurement, saline and 10% potassium hydroxide microscopy, yeast and bacterial cultures and STD screening.

Patients who fulfill diagnostic criteria of PVD and who will be willing to participate in the study will be asked to sign an informed consent and complete the following self-administered intake questionnaires:

* Socio-demographic questionnaire (age, marital status, religios, PVD onset, health status, education etc.)
* Close Relations Experiences questionnaire
* Five Factor Inventory -NEO-FFI
* Pain catastrophizing questionnaire
* Sense of Coherence Scale
* Ways of giving support questionnaire
* COPE -Multidimensional Coping Inventory
* Semantic Differential Measure of Marital Satisfaction
* PSS-10 - Perceived Stress Scale
* FSFI-Female Sexual Function Index

Instructions for treatment will be given in regards to the diagnosis. Patients will be instructed to schedule follow-up appointments at 3,6,9, and 12 months. During follow-up appointments they will be assessed in regard to vestibular tenderness (using various parameters), as well as by the same questionnaires. Additional treatment will be recommended according to medical status, in an identical way to this routinely used in the clinic.

Conditions

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Localized Provoked Vulvodynia

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

CASE_ONLY

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Hypertonic pelvic muscle dysfunction

In this subgroup, pelvic floor (PF) muscles become tight and tender. Typically, the pain is much worse at 4-8 o'clock position of the vestibule with minimal or no pain in the upper vestibule.

Pelvic floor physical therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Hormonally mediated PVD

The pain began while taking hormonal contraceptive or other medications that affect hormones, after removal of ovaries, breastfeeding or menopause. The entire vestibule is tender and vestibular mucosa is often dry and thin.

estriol cream (ovestin)

Intervention Type DRUG

Neuroproliferative PVD

In this condition, we speculate that women have an increased number of nociceptors in the vestibular mucosa. Pain is primary and there is tenderness of the entire vestibule.

Low-level-laser therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Interventions

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Pelvic floor physical therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

estriol cream (ovestin)

Intervention Type DRUG

Low-level-laser therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. A history of 3 months or more of vulvar pain suggestive of PVD, i.e. symptoms of pain on vaginal penetration (insertional dyspareunia and/or pain with tampon insertion).
2. On exam, tenderness localized within the vestibule when being touched with a cotton-tip applicator.
3. No identifiable cause for the pain, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal atrophy, desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV), herpes, dermatitis or vulvar dystrophy.

Exclusion Criteria

1. other causes for vulvar pain
2. pregnancy or a planned pregnancy in the upcoming year
3. diagnosis of chronic disease that may affect central nervous system or general function.
4. usage of psychiatric medications or those affecting pain modulation.
5. unprovoked or mixed vulvodynia
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Meir Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ahinoam Lev-Sagie

MD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Merkaz Briot Haisha, Ramat Eshkol

Jerusalem, , Israel

Site Status

Countries

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Israel

References

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Andrews JC. Vulvodynia interventions--systematic review and evidence grading. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2011 May;66(5):299-315. doi: 10.1097/OGX.0b013e3182277fb7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21794194 (View on PubMed)

Antonovsky, A. (1987). How people manage stress and stay well. San Francisco, CA, US: Jossey-Bass Unraveling the mystery of health.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Bergeron S, Binik YM, Khalife S, Pagidas K, Glazer HI, Meana M, Amsel R. A randomized comparison of group cognitive--behavioral therapy, surface electromyographic biofeedback, and vestibulectomy in the treatment of dyspareunia resulting from vulvar vestibulitis. Pain. 2001 Apr;91(3):297-306. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(00)00449-8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11275387 (View on PubMed)

Bergeron S, Brown C, Lord MJ, Oala M, Binik YM, Khalife S. Physical therapy for vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: a retrospective study. J Sex Marital Ther. 2002 May-Jun;28(3):183-92. doi: 10.1080/009262302760328226.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11995597 (View on PubMed)

Brennan, K.A., Clark, C.L., & Shaver P.R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In J.A. Simpson & W.S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships, (pp. 46-76). NY,US: Guilford Press.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Buunk, B. P., Berkhuysen, M. A., Sanderman, R., Nieuwland, W., & Ranchor, A. V. (1996). Active engagement, protective buffering and overprotection: Instruments to measure the role of the spouse in heart rehabilitation. Gedrag & Gezondheid, 24, 304- 113.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Carver CS, Scheier MF, Weintraub JK. Assessing coping strategies: a theoretically based approach. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989 Feb;56(2):267-83. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.56.2.267.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 2926629 (View on PubMed)

Cohen, S., & Spacapan, S. (1978). The aftereffects of stress: An attentional interpretation. Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior, 3(1), 43-57.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Meredith P, Ownsworth T, Strong J. A review of the evidence linking adult attachment theory and chronic pain: presenting a conceptual model. Clin Psychol Rev. 2008 Mar;28(3):407-29. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2007.07.009. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17719157 (View on PubMed)

Sadownik LA. Clinical profile of vulvodynia patients. A prospective study of 300 patients. J Reprod Med. 2000 Aug;45(8):679-84.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10986689 (View on PubMed)

Sullivan, M. J. L., Bishop, S., & Pivic, J. (1995). The pain catastrophizing scale: Development and validation. Psychological Assessment, 7, 524-532.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

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0089-16-COM1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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