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Association Between Heat Pain Detection Threshold and Area of Secondary Hyperalgesia

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Healthy
Interventions
Other: Brief thermal sensitization
Other: Pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation
Other: Heat pain detection threshold
Registration Number
NCT02527395
Lead Sponsor
Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Brief Summary

The purpose of this prospective study is to investigate how close Heat Pain Detection Threshold is associated with the area of secondary hyperalgesia, elicited by the clinical pain model Brief Thermal Sensitization.

Furthermore we wish to investigate how close the clinical pain model: Pain during 1 min. heating of the skin (45 degrees celsius), and the psychological tests, Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale are associated with the area of secondary hyperalgesia, elicited by the clinical pain model Brief Thermal Sensitization.

Detailed Description

The study participants will be tested with 3 types of clinical pain models on two separate identical study days. A minimum of 7 days will separate the two study days, thus, the minimum length of the study is 7 days, but can be higher.

The 3 types of pain conditioning consist of 1) Brief thermal sensitisation (BTS), 2) Heat pain detection threshold (HPDT), and pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation (p-TS.

The order of the stimulations (HPDT and BTS) is randomised for each patient and each study day, by a random allocation sequence, computer-generated by Copenhagen Trial Unit and stored in sealed and opaque envelopes to secure adequate allocation concealment. p-TS is conducted subsequent to BTS and HPDT.

The participants will complete the psychological tests Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in their private home prior to study day 1. The completed tests will be placed in opaque sealed envelopes to secure blinding of the investigator and outcome assessor.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
121
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age >18 years and <35 years
  • Speak and understand Danish
  • Male gender
  • Study participants who have understood and signed the informed consent
  • No prescription medicine during the last 30 days.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Study participants that cannot cooperate to the test.
  • Study participants who have a weekly intake of >21 units of alcohol, or a have consumed >3 units of alcohol within 24 hours before experimental day.
  • Study participants with a substance abuse, assessed by the investigator.
  • Study participants, who have consumed analgesics less than 3 days before experimental day.
  • Study participants, who have consumed antihistamines less than 48 hours before experimental day.
  • Study participants, who have consumed antidepressant medication during the last 30 days before experimental day.
  • Study participants with chronic pain.
  • Study participants with neurological illnesses.
  • Study participants with psychiatric diagnoses.
  • Study participants with tattoos on the extremities.
  • Study participants with eczema, wounds or sunburns on the sites of stimulation.
  • Study participants with a Body Mass Index of >30 kg/m2 or <18 kg/m2

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Clinical pain modelsPain during 1 min. thermal stimulationBrief thermal sensitization. Heat pain detection threshold. Pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation
Clinical pain modelsBrief thermal sensitizationBrief thermal sensitization. Heat pain detection threshold. Pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation
Clinical pain modelsHeat pain detection thresholdBrief thermal sensitization. Heat pain detection threshold. Pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Size of the Area of secondary hyperalgesia following Brief thermal sensitization, evaluated by cm2, and heat pain detection threshold registered by degrees celsius.7 days

How close is the Heat Pain Detection Threshold associated with the size of the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by Brief thermal sensitization? Area of secondary hyperalgesia will be investigated on two separate study days separated with a minimum of 7 days. The association will be expressed in R2 and prediction intervals for the area of BTS given fixed values of HPDT.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation, evaluated by Area Under the Curve of the visual analog scale, 0-100 mm.Study day 1 and 2. A minimum of 7 days

How close is the Visual analog scale (VAS)-AUC (area under the curve) following pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation associated with the size of the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by Brief thermal sensitization?

Pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation, evaluated by maximum on the visual analog scale, 0-100mm.Study day 1 and 2. A minimum of 7 days.

How close is the max. VAS-score following pain during 1 min. thermal stimulation associated with the size of the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by Brief thermal sensitization?

Score of Pain Catastrophizing ScaleStudy day 1 and 2. A minimum of 7 days.

How close is the scores of Pain Catastrophizing Scale associated with the size of the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by Brief thermal sensitization?

Score of Hospital Anxiety and Depression ScaleStudy day 1 and 2. A minimum of 7 days.

How close is the scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale associated with the size of the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by Brief thermal sensitization?

Score of Subscales of Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Study day 1 and 2. A minimum of 7 days.

How close are the subscales in the two psychological tests (PCS-rumination, PCS-magnification, PCS-helplessness, and HADS-Anxiety, HADS-Depression) associated with the size of the area of secondary hyperalgesia?

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of anaesthesia and surgery, 4231, Rigshospitalet

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

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