Brain in Pain III (CFS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Brain in Pain III: The Neurophysiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
IRAS ID
119594
Contact name
Julius Bourke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
QMUL
Research summary
In chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic pain occurs without identifiable cause. CFS is poorly understood and partly as a consequence remains treated with only moderately good outcomes. This may improve with a better understanding of how the brain and the nerves are affected. We aim to examine how the nerves, the brain and brain chemicals are involved in CFS, and specifically in relation to pain. We will do this using three methods in CFS patients as compared to healthy controls. The first method involves examining aspects that have a direct effect upon our experience of pain, including personality traits, anxiety and fatigue. Next we will use sensory tests that tell us whether an individual feels pain through the nerves normally or in a more sensitive way (‘sensitisation’). The third test is a special brain scan that lets us identify the most active parts of the brain. We will do this whilst delivering moderate pain to the thumb so that we can look at the parts of the brain that are most active during pain typical of CFS. We will do three of these scans and before each one, we will give our volunteers an inactive tablet or one of two active tablets (medicines). These medicines are commonly used and are safe. We know how they work in the brain and by looking at how brain activity changes during pain with and without these drugs we will be able to see how the brain chemistry changes during pain as well as the areas affected in these disorders. This is the most important part, as it is the chemistry in the brain that medicines for chronic pain target.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1399
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion