Self-regulation of Real-time fMRI Brain Activity in Chronic Pain
NCT ID: NCT07023523
Last Updated: 2025-11-03
Study Results
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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RECRUITING
NA
36 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-10-31
2026-07-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Investigators will recruit patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visit, participants will complete a fMRI neurofeedback session inside an MRI scanner. Prior to entering the scanner, participants will complete several questionnaires and discuss with the research team the self-regulation strategies they plan to use during the neurofeedback task to modulate fibromyalgia pain. For the neurofeedback, participants will be presented with a visual representation of their brain activity performance so that they can maintain or update their strategy throughout the run. As part of the baseline visit, investigators will also apply moderate pressure pain to the patient's leg in the scanner to see how their brain responds to the experimental pain stimulation.
After the baseline visit, participants will be randomly assigned into the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Fibromyalgia Education groups, and they will then attend 8 weekly intervention sessions with a pain psychologist. During the post-intervention MRI visit, participants will complete the same questionnaires and tasks performed at the baseline visit to assess changes in neural mechanisms underlying the self-regulation of fibromyalgia pain and the experience of experimental pain. All outcome measures will be assessed at both baseline and post-intervention visits.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
OTHER
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
8 individual weekly visits with a psychologist for pain-related CBT.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Practicing certain cognitive and behavioral pain self-management strategies such as relaxation and changing negative thoughts about pain.
Disease Education
8 individual weekly visits with a psychologist for fibromyalgia education (this is an active comparator arm, matched for provider contact).
Disease Education
Providing information about fibromyalgia, including its potential causes and management approaches.
Interventions
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Practicing certain cognitive and behavioral pain self-management strategies such as relaxation and changing negative thoughts about pain.
Disease Education
Providing information about fibromyalgia, including its potential causes and management approaches.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
2. Meet the Wolfe et al 2011 research criteria for fibromyalgia for at least one year
3. On stable doses of medication prior to entering the study and agree not to change medications or dosages (or CAM treatments) during the trial
4. Baseline pain intensity of at least 4/10 on average and pain report for at least 50% of days
5. Able to provide written consent and fluent in English
Exclusion Criteria
2. Comorbid chronic pain condition that is rated by the subject as more painful than fibromyalgia
3. Stimulant medications for the fatigue associated with sleep apnea or shift work (e.g., modafinil),
4. Pregnant or nursing
5. Any psychiatric disorder involving a history of psychosis (e. g schizophrenia, severe personality disorders)
6. History of anxiety disorders or significant anxiety symptoms interfering with fMRI procedures (e.g., panic)
7. Contraindication to MRI (e.g., implanted ferrous metal)
8. History of significant head injury (e.g., with substantial loss of consciousness)
9. Psychiatric hospitalization in the past 6 months
10. Other contraindications to MRI
11. Participating in other therapeutic trials
12. Active suicidal ideation
13. Documented peripheral neuropathy of known cause (e.g diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, guillain-barre)
14. Routine or daily use of narcotics or substances of abuse
15. Autoimmune or inflammatory disease (RA, SLE, IBD) that causes pain
16. Lower Limb Vascular Surgery or Current Lower Limb Vascular Dysfunction
17. Any impairment, activity or situation that in the judgment of the Study Coordinator or Principal Investigator that would prevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol. This includes unreliable, or inconsistent pain scores as deemed by the principal investigator.
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
NIH
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
OTHER
Brigham and Women's Hospital
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Jeungchan Lee
Assistant Professor
Principal Investigators
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Jeungchan Lee, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Locations
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Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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