Brain Connectivity Changes With Spinal Cord Stimulation and Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Resting State NIRS/EEG Study

NCT ID: NCT05811312

Last Updated: 2025-06-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-06-30

Brief Summary

This study aims to assess how use of spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain impacts brain structure and function. The investigators will use a non-invasive neuroimaging technique called resting state Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Electroencephalography (rs-fNIRS/EEG). The investigators will enroll Veterans who are currently receiving care at the Medical Center and who are either long term users of SCS for the treatment of their chronic pain or being evaluated for use of SCS to treat their pain.

Detailed Description

Chronic pain is a complex neurological disease that adversely impacts function and quality of life. Brain structure and function are altered when an individual is in the chronic pain state. Furthermore, chronic pain is associated with disruptions in functional brain connectivity. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a clinically available non-pharmacological therapy that is used in the management of chronic pain. Although SCS is effective for many, there are individuals who do not benefit. Therefore, in order to better understand brain mechanisms that underlie SCS treatment of chronic pain and to develop brain biomarkers of SCS efficacy, the investigators propose to evaluate functional brain changes in response to SCS. Finding a brain signature of pain relief in response to SCS would improve understanding of how SCS alleviates chronic pain and may help to identify those most likely to respond. The main objective of this study is to assess changes in brain connectivity in response to SCS in individuals with chronic neuropathic pain. The investigators will study two cohorts: Cohort 1 - naïve to SCS patients who are undergoing SCS trial period; Cohort 1 - long-term SCS users ( 6 months post implantation). The investigators aim to identify neurophysiological brain signatures of pain relief in these two populations using resting state Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Electroencephalography (rs-fNIRS/EEG). Study Design: The investigators will enroll Veterans with refractory chronic neuropathic pain who are currently receiving clinical care within the medical center. Cohort 1: Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain who are naïve to SCS and were selected for SCS trial period as part of their clinical care will participate in two study visits: before the beginning of the SCS trial and the end of the trial period. Data collection will be consistent across all data collection timepoints (T1 - T3) and include rs-fNIRS/EEG and clinical pain measures. Cohort 2: Participants with effective implanted SCS 6 months will participate in three study visits conducted 24-48 hours apart. Data will be collected during SCS use and following an SCS washout period. Data collection will be consistent across all data collection timepoints(T1-T4) and include rs-fNIRS/EEG and clinical pain measures. Both cohorts will receive paresthesia based SCS. AIM 1 is to characterize neurophysiological (rs-fNIRS/EEG) brain signature of pain relief during the SCS trial period for patients with chronic neuropathic pain who are naïve to SCS. AIM 2 is to characterize neurophysiological (rs-fNIRS/EEG) brain signature of pain relief in patients with chronic neuropathic pain who have utilized SCS for 6 months. Outcome Measures to address both aims include rs-functional connectivity (rs-fNIRS/EEG); and a composite clinical pain assessment that will include Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 profile v2.1(PROMIS-29); EQ-5D-5L; Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC); painDetect; and activity monitoring. Significance: Studying changes in brain connectivity in response to SCS will provide insight into the treatment mechanism of SCS. Use of neuroimaging methods such as rs-fNIRS/EEG that can be easily applied in the clinical setting to further refine patient selection for SCS may improve outcome in SCS therapy. This grant will provide preliminary data for future studies aimed at developing biomarkers of pain-relief with SCS treatment.

Conditions

Neuropathic Pain

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: OTHER

Study Groups

Cohort 1-individuals who are naïve to SCS

Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain who are naïve to SCS and were selected for SCS trial period as part of their clinical care will participate in two study visits: before the beginning of the SCS trial and the end of the trial period. Data collection will be consistent across all data collection timepoints (T1 - T3) and include rs-fNIRS/EEG and clinical pain measures.

No interventions assigned to this group

Cohort 2-individuals with effective implanted SCS 6 months

Cohort 2: Participants with effective implanted SCS 6 months will participate in three study visits conducted 24-48 hours apart. Data will be collected during SCS use and following an SCS washout period. Data collection will be consistent across all data collection timepoints(T1-T4) and include rs-fNIRS/EEG and clinical pain measures. Both cohorts will receive paresthesia based SCS.

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years of age and a US veteran
• Diagnosis of chronic neuropathic pain.
• Current patient at Cleveland VA Medical Center receiving care via Pain Medicine Center.
• Current user of tonic parasthesia-based SCS (pain relief 50% according to NPRS) or undergoing trial SCS period as part of clinical care.
• Able to provide informed consent.
• Medically and psychologically stable.

Exclusion Criteria

• Metal in the skull or deformity of the skull
• Pregnancy or pregnancy planning during the study period.
• Unable to provide informed consent.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

VA Office of Research and Development

FED

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Svetlana Pundik, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Locations

Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Cheryl Dudek

Role: CONTACT

cheryl.dudek@va.gov

(216) 679-3800

Holly B Henry

Role: CONTACT

holly.henry@va.gov

(216) 791-3800 ext. 64657

Facility Contacts

Jessica P McCabe, MPT DPT

Role: primary

Jessica.Mccabe@va.gov

216-791-3800 ext. 4691

Svetlana Pundik, MD

Role: backup

svetlana.pundik@va.gov

(216) 791-3800 ext. 3732

Other Identifiers

F4389-P

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id