Central Sensitization in Chronic Whiplash Patients

• Conditions: Chronic Pain

• Registration Number: NCT03005691
• Lead Sponsor: University of Castilla-La Mancha

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the metabolite concentrations within the anterior cingulate cortex and periaqueductal gray matter predict the intensity and interference of neuropathic pain after the development of chronic whiplash syndrome.

Detailed Description

Persistent chronic pain is a common symptom of whiplash leading to reduced quality of life. Little information is available regarding changes in brain processing areas and change in central sensitization to noxious input during the chronic phase of whiplash. Metabolite concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex and periaqueductal gray matter may be predictors of neuropathic pain and these changes may explain the development of central sensitization in people with chronic whiplash.

Until now, there is not any study that show this approach.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2016-12
• Study First Submitted: 2016-12-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-12-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-12-28
• Study First Posted: 2016-12-29
• Last Update Posted: 2016-12-29
• Study Start: 2017-01
• Primary Completion: 2017-03
• Study Completion: 2017-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Whiplash syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Age between 18 to 65 years
• 4 months to 2 years after the whiplash syndrome

Exclusion Criteria

• Neurological disease
• Claustrophobia

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Metabolite concentrations	Baseline at 0 min	The metabolite concentrations will be measured by magnetic resonance (spectroscopy)
Brief Pain Inventory	Baseline at 0 min	Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), it is used to evaluate the subject's perception of pain severity and its interference.
Neurophatic Pain Symptoms Inventory	Baseline at 0 min	Neurophatic Pain Symptoms Inventory (NPSI), it is used to detect paresthesia/dysaesthesia, evoked pain and paroxysmal pain.
Pain Catastrophizing Helplessness Subscale	Baseline at 0 min	Pain Catastrophizing Helplessness Subscale it is used to assess the catastrophizing score
Neck Disability Index	Baseline at 0 min	Neck Disability Index (NDI), it is used to assess the disability after whiplash syndrome
Conditioned Pain Modulation	Baseline at 0 min	Conditioned Pain Modulation will be measured by a Pathway system (Medoc Ltd)