Clinical Study on Implicit Learning, Comorbidity and Stress Vulnerability in Chronic Functional Pain

Universitätsmedizin Mannheim

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Fibromyalgia

Treatments: Behavioral: Experimental heat pain model

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00222209

DFG HO 904/11-3,4

Details and patient eligibility

About

The project investigates on the role of pain avoidance, comorbidity and stress response for the development of chronic somatic and visceral pain. We, the researchers at University Hospital Mannheim, assume that implicit operant learning of pain sensitization is a central mechanism of the process of pain becoming chronic, which is augmented by fear and by avoidance behaviour. Somatic and psychological comorbidity as well as stress factors are further promoting factors in chronic pain development.

Full description

Study 1: Implicit operant learning of sensitization and habituation in an experimental heat pain model will be investigated and compared in healthy controls, chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia, with and w/o visceral pain.

Study 2: Functional imaging of implicit operant learning of sensitization and habituation in an experimental heat pain model (same subgroups as in study 1).

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Fibromyalgia according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
• Visceral hypersensitivity according to ROME criteria
• Chronic pain according to International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) criteria

Exclusion criteria

• Abnormal quantitative sensory testing
• Psychiatric or neurological anamnesis, except fear and depression
• Acute major depression
• Substance abuse

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind