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Detection of EEG-Based Biomarkers of Chronic Low Back Pain

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Chronic Low-back Pain
Healthy
Interventions
Behavioral: Resting State EEG
Behavioral: Picture Viewing EEG
Behavioral: Stop Signal EEG
Registration Number
NCT06025201
Lead Sponsor
Stanford University
Brief Summary

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a pervasive disorder affecting up to one-fifth of adults globally and is the single greatest cause of disability worldwide. Despite the high prevalence and detrimental impact of CLBP, its treatments and mechanisms remain largely unclear. Biomarkers that predict symptom progression in CLBP support precision-based treatments and ultimately aid in reducing suffering. Longitudinal brain-based resting-state neuroimaging of patients with CLBP has revealed neural networks that predict pain chronification and its symptom progression. Although early findings suggest that measurements of brain networks can lead to the development of prognostic biomarkers, the predictive ability of these models is strongest for short-term follow-up. Measurements of different neural systems may provide additional benefits with better predictive power.

Emotional and cognitive dysfunction is common in CLBP, occurring at the behavioral and cerebral level, presenting a unique opportunity to detect prognostic brain-based biomarkers. Likewise, improvements in electroencephalogram (EEG) neuroimaging strategies have led to increased spatial resolution, enabling researchers to overcome the limitations of classically used neuroimaging modalities (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging \[MRI\] and functional MRI), such as high cost and limited accessibility. Using longitudinal EEG, this patient-oriented research project will provide a comprehensive neural picture of emotional, cognitive, and resting-state networks in patients with CLBP, which will aid in predicting symptom progression in CLBP. Through this award, the investigators will use modern EEG source analysis strategies to track biomarkers at baseline and 1- and 2-month follow-ups and their covariance with markers for pain and emotional and cognitive dysfunction. A 5-month follow up will also be used to only assess patient reported outcomes. In Aim 1, the investigators will identify and characterize differences in resting-state, emotional, and cognitive networks between patients with CLPB and age/sex-matched controls. In Aim 2, the investigators will identify within-subject changes across time and their relationship with clinical symptoms. In Aim 3, as an exploratory aim, the investigators will apply machine- and deep-learning strategies to detect a comprehensive signature of CLBP using EEG features from resting-state, emotional, and cognitive networks.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
130
Inclusion Criteria
  • Current diagnosis of Chronic Low Back Pain
Exclusion Criteria
  • Current diagnosis of cancer
  • Severe psychiatric conditions
  • Pending personal litigation relating to an injury or receiving workers' compensation benefits
  • Being a non-English speaker.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Single ArmResting State EEGAll participants will complete all interventions
Single ArmStop Signal EEGAll participants will complete all interventions
Single ArmPicture Viewing EEGAll participants will complete all interventions
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain Intensity changes from baseline as assessed by the PROMIS current, 7 day maximal and 7 day averageBaseline, 1-month, 2-month and 5-month follow-ups

Within subjects change in pain intensity from baseline to each follow up point. Pain intensity measures are 0-10 range with larger numbers indicating more pain

EEG late positive potential changes from baselineBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow-ups

Within subjects change in late positive potential from baseline to each follow up point.

EEG resting state functional connectivity changes from baselineBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow-ups

Within subjects change in resting state functional connectivity from baseline to each follow up point.

EEG error related negativity changes from baselineBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow-ups

Within subjects change in error related negativity from baseline to each follow up point.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Neuropsychological changes from baseline as assessed by the NIH toolboxBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow-ups

Within subjects change in metrics of fluid and crystallized intelligence from baseline to each follow up point

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Stanford's Systems and Neuroscience Pain Lab

🇺🇸

Palo Alto, California, United States

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