Brain networks underlying body perception-related pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EXPLORING BRAIN NETWORKS UNDERLYING BODY PERCEPTION-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN
IRAS ID
234938
Contact name
Jenny Lewis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ISRCTN66190737, Facilitating Activity and Self-management in Arthritis (FASA) South West Registry; http://www.crpsnetworkuk.org/page1.aspx?p=13, National CRPS Network Registry
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Recent evidence shows that changing the appearance of painful limbs using visual illusions reduces pain in persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain conditions. Yet the neural processes that underlie this rapid modulation in pain are unknown; it is the aim of this project to characterize these processes and to ultimately discover new avenues to brain network targets for future pain treatment.
Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) we will investigate the brain activation in response to a visual hand illusion intervention and identify the specific pattern of brain activation that relates to changes in pain perception. Two groups of patients with different types of MSK pain and age-matched healthy participants will be invited to participate. One patient population will comprise of patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), suffering from wider-spread upper limb pain; the second group will comprise of Osteoarthritis (OA) patients with joint-related hand pain. Participants will first be invited to session 1, during which clinical assessments will be performed and pain questionnaires filled out in order to characterize pain severity and individual feelings about the affected limb. We will then assess whether participants are suggestible to visual illusions. Only participants who are susceptible enough (approximately 60%) will then be invited to continue the study and take part in a second session. During session 2, participants will undergo an MRI scan. Whilst being in the scanner, participants will be engaged in the visual hand illusion intervention, during which their hand appearance is altered to how they would like their hand to look. We will analyse brain activation in response to this illusionary change and compare it to the brain activation whilst viewing their hand when it has not been visually altered . Finally, we will identify differences in these brain networks among the three groups (CRPS, OA, and healthy controls).REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0649
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion