Relationship Between Central Sensitization Symptoms and Cognitive Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia

NCT ID: NCT06948903

Last Updated: 2025-09-12

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

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-01-10

Study Completion Date

2025-10-01

Brief Summary

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The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between central sensitization parameters and cognitive dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia.The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do central sensitization symptoms affect cognitive dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia? To what extent do central sensitization symptoms affect objective and subjective cognitive complaints in fibromyalgia patients? How do cognitive complaints relate to other clinical parameters, including disease severity, in these patients?

Detailed Description

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Central sensitization is defined as an increase in pain sensitivity with amplification of neuron-derived signals in the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain, and although its etiology and pathophysiology are still not fully known, it is considered a major member of the group of diseases known as central sensitivity syndromes, which progress with impaired pain regulation.

Fibromyalgia negatively affects the patient's functionality in various ways. One of these is cognitive dysfunction, and previous studies have shown that fibromyalgia patients experience significant deterioration in all parameters related to cognitive function compared to healthy controls. Central sensitization has been shown to be associated with comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and fatigue in many disease groups, including fibromyalgia, and data on its effect on cognitive dysfunction are limited.

A study found that impaired conditioned pain modulation, one of the methods used in the evaluation of central sensitization in fibromyalgia patients, was associated with cognitive dysfunction.In addition, cognitive impairment in these patients is associated with a decrease in the quality of life of the patients and is suggested to be one of the important clinical findings of the disease. Considering all these data, it seems likely that central sensitization negatively affects cognitive function in fibromyalgia, and this study aimed to examine in detail the relationship between central sensitization and cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients.

Conditions

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Fibromyalgia Cognitive Dysfunction Central Sensitisation

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

CASE_ONLY

Study Time Perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

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Patients

Patients with fibromyalgia

Central Sensitization Inventory

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The Central Sensitization Inventory is used by some researchers to investigate pain sensitivity through symptoms associated with central sensitization and related comorbidities. It can help determine the severity of central sensitization. The scale was developed to detect central sensitization in patients with chronic pain and consists of two sections: Section A and Section B. For scoring purposes, only Section A is used. A score of 40 or higher out of 100 is associated with an increased likelihood of central sensitization.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was initially developed as a test for mild cognitive impairment, but has also been determined to match qualities of the mini mental state examination 80. It assesses seven areas of cognition for a total possible score of 30 points. A score of 21 or less is indicative of cognitive impairment in Turkish population.

Cognitive Symptom Severity Scale-Extended

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The Cognitive Symptom Severity Scale extends the scale of the original cognitive symptom severity scale. Participants are asked to rate their cognitive symptoms related to concentration and memory on a single scale ranging from 1-5, rather than the original 1-3, where higher scores indicate greater severity.

Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

Intervention Type OTHER

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire is composed of 10 items. The first item contains 11 questions related to physical functioning - each question is rated on a 4 point Likert type scale. Items 2 and 3 ask the patient to mark the number of days they felt well and the number of days they were unable to work (including housework) because of fibromyalgia symptoms. Items 4 through 10 are horizontal linear scales marked in 10 increments on which the patient rates work difficulty, pain, fatigue, morning tiredness, stiffness, anxiety and depression. The maximum scale score is 100, with higher scores associated with increasing disability.

Numeric rating scale

Intervention Type OTHER

Numeric Rating Scale will be used to determine pain intensity during assessments. Participants will be asked to rate their pain intensity by selecting a value between 0 and 10. Higher scores are associated with increased pain severity.

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Intervention Type OTHER

This scale is used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms and consists of 14 items (7 items for anxiety, 7 items for depression). For each subscale, scores range from 0 to 21: • 0-7 points: No symptoms or very mild symptoms • 8-10 points: Moderate symptoms • 11 points or higher

Interventions

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Central Sensitization Inventory

The Central Sensitization Inventory is used by some researchers to investigate pain sensitivity through symptoms associated with central sensitization and related comorbidities. It can help determine the severity of central sensitization. The scale was developed to detect central sensitization in patients with chronic pain and consists of two sections: Section A and Section B. For scoring purposes, only Section A is used. A score of 40 or higher out of 100 is associated with an increased likelihood of central sensitization.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was initially developed as a test for mild cognitive impairment, but has also been determined to match qualities of the mini mental state examination 80. It assesses seven areas of cognition for a total possible score of 30 points. A score of 21 or less is indicative of cognitive impairment in Turkish population.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Cognitive Symptom Severity Scale-Extended

The Cognitive Symptom Severity Scale extends the scale of the original cognitive symptom severity scale. Participants are asked to rate their cognitive symptoms related to concentration and memory on a single scale ranging from 1-5, rather than the original 1-3, where higher scores indicate greater severity.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire is composed of 10 items. The first item contains 11 questions related to physical functioning - each question is rated on a 4 point Likert type scale. Items 2 and 3 ask the patient to mark the number of days they felt well and the number of days they were unable to work (including housework) because of fibromyalgia symptoms. Items 4 through 10 are horizontal linear scales marked in 10 increments on which the patient rates work difficulty, pain, fatigue, morning tiredness, stiffness, anxiety and depression. The maximum scale score is 100, with higher scores associated with increasing disability.

Intervention Type OTHER

Numeric rating scale

Numeric Rating Scale will be used to determine pain intensity during assessments. Participants will be asked to rate their pain intensity by selecting a value between 0 and 10. Higher scores are associated with increased pain severity.

Intervention Type OTHER

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

This scale is used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms and consists of 14 items (7 items for anxiety, 7 items for depression). For each subscale, scores range from 0 to 21: • 0-7 points: No symptoms or very mild symptoms • 8-10 points: Moderate symptoms • 11 points or higher

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to American College of Rheumatology 2016 criteria
* Being between 18-65 years old
* Being literate
* Accepting to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Concomitant systemic inflammatory disease, central nervous system disease (cortical involvement), active infection and malignancy history
* History of illness that may lead to cognitive impairment
* Being \<18 and \>65 years old
* Being illiterate
* Not accepting to participate in the study
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Feyza Yücel

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Locations

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Health Sciences University

Istanbul, Uskudar, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Feyza Yücel, M.D.

Role: CONTACT

(0216) 542 20 00 ext. +90

Facility Contacts

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Feyza Yücel, M.D.

Role: primary

(0216) 542 20 00 ext. +90

References

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Akinci A, Al Shaker M, Chang MH, Cheung CW, Danilov A, Jose Duenas H, Kim YC, Guillen R, Tassanawipas W, Treuer T, Wang Y. Predictive factors and clinical biomarkers for treatment in patients with chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis with a central sensitisation component. Int J Clin Pract. 2016 Jan;70(1):31-44. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.12749. Epub 2015 Nov 11.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26558538 (View on PubMed)

Bell T, Trost Z, Buelow MT, Clay O, Younger J, Moore D, Crowe M. Meta-analysis of cognitive performance in fibromyalgia. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2018 Sep;40(7):698-714. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2017.1422699. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29388512 (View on PubMed)

Coppieters I, Ickmans K, Cagnie B, Nijs J, De Pauw R, Noten S, Meeus M. Cognitive Performance Is Related to Central Sensitization and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders and Fibromyalgia. Pain Physician. 2015 May-Jun;18(3):E389-401.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26000686 (View on PubMed)

Bertolucci PH, de Oliveira FF. Cognitive impairment in fibromyalgia. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Jul;17(7):344. doi: 10.1007/s11916-013-0344-9.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23709236 (View on PubMed)

Elkana O, Yaalon C, Raev S, Sobol N, Ablin JN, Shorer R, Aloush V. A modified version of the 2016 ACR fibromyalgia criteria cognitive items results in stronger correlations between subjective and objective measures of cognitive impairment. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2021 May-Jun;39 Suppl 130(3):66-71. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/403mpp. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33734966 (View on PubMed)

Duzce Keles E, Birtane M, Ekuklu G, Kilincer C, Caliyurt O, Tastekin N, Is EE, Ketenci A, Neblett R. Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the central sensitization inventory. Arch Rheumatol. 2021 Oct 18;36(4):518-526. doi: 10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2022.8665. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 35382371 (View on PubMed)

Nasreddine ZS, Phillips NA, Bedirian V, Charbonneau S, Whitehead V, Collin I, Cummings JL, Chertkow H. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Apr;53(4):695-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15817019 (View on PubMed)

Kaya Y, Aki OE, Can UA, Derle E, Kibaroglu S, Barak A. Validation of Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Discriminant Power of Montreal Cognitive Assessment Subtests in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Dementia in Turkish Population. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2014 Jun;27(2):103-9. doi: 10.1177/0891988714522701. Epub 2014 Feb 26.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24578463 (View on PubMed)

Sarmer S, Ergin S, Yavuzer G. The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Rheumatol Int. 2000 Dec;20(1):9-12. doi: 10.1007/s002960000077.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 11149662 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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11111

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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