Mechanisms of Affective Touch in Chronic Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Fibromyalgia

• Registration Number: NCT04206397
• Lead Sponsor: Laura Case

Brief Summary

This study compares how different types of touch found in massage therapies impact pain perception, and whether these effects differ in individuals with and without chronic pain. This study also examines psychological factors that may predict differences in touch perception in individuals with chronic pain. This research will improve our understanding of whether and how massage therapies can benefit pain and health, and whether this differs in people who suffer from chronic pain.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-12-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-12-17
• Study First Posted: 2019-12-20
• Study Start: 2021-09-15
• Status Verified: 2024-10
• Primary Completion: 2024-10-21
• Study Completion: 2024-10-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-10-23
• Last Update Posted: 2024-10-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 105

Inclusion Criteria

1. ages 18-65
2. fluent in English
3. physician diagnosis of Fibromyalgia but no other chronic pain conditions (patients) or no evidence of chronic pain (healthy volunteers)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Sensory, motor, or anatomic differences or injuries relevant to study procedures
2. Known anomalies of the central nervous system (including stroke, dementia, aneurysm, or personal history of psychosis)
3. Pregnancy
4. Inability to rate pain or sensations
5. Major medical conditions such as kidney, liver, cardiovascular (hypertension, preexisting cardiac arrhythmia), autonomic, pulmonary, or neurological problems (e.g., seizure disorder) or a chronic systemic disease (e.g., diabetes).
6. History of blood clots or first-degree family members with clotting disorders
7. Current use of opiate medication(s)
8. Contraindications to MRI if participating in pilot MRI study
9. Unable to identify a heat stimulus 50C or lower that generates a rating of a 7 on our VAS scale
10. History of fainting or seizures
11. History of frostbite
12. Open cut or sore on hand to be immersed in cold water bath
13. Fracture of limb to be immersed
14. History of Reynaud's phenomenon (hands get white, then blue on exposure to cold, then red on warming)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Trauma history using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire	Day 1	The investigators will measure trauma history using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. This measure will be included in a linear regression model to determine whether this measure significantly predicts differences in ratings of touch pleasantness.
Current depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale without chronic pain	Day 1	The investigators will measure current depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. This measure will be included in a linear regression model to determine whether this measure significantly predicts differences in ratings of touch pleasantness.
Ratings of affective touch	Day 1	Touch pleasant/unpleasantness ratings will be assessed in response to each sensory stimulus (brushing, tapping, and pressure) using a Visual Analog Scale with anchors of "no pleasantness" to "most pleasant imaginable." Affective touch perception is the difference in ratings between the affective and neutral touch conditions during the baseline testing session and will be compared between individuals with and without chronic pain.
Ratings of Heat Pain Intensity	Day 2	Pain intensity will be measured during the baseline and post-tests in the affective-Conditioned Pain Modulation blocks. Pain intensity will be assessed with a Visual Analog Scale with anchors from "no pain " to "most intense pain imaginable." VAS pain ratings will be compared before and after blocks of affective touch stimuli .
Chronic pain levels using the Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire	Day 1	The investigators will measure chronic pain levels using the Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire. This measure will be included in a linear regression model to determine whether this measure significantly predicts differences in ratings of touch pleasantness.
Ratings of Heat Pain Unpleasantness	Day 2	Pain unpleasantness will be measured during the baseline and post-tests in the affective-Conditioned Pain Modulation blocks. Pain intensity will be assessed with a Visual Analog Scale with anchors from "no unpleasantness" to "most unpleasant pain imaginable." VAS pain ratings will be compared before and after blocks of affective touch stimuli.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Breathing rate	Day 1 and 2	Respiration rate will be measured during the baseline and during the affective touch and pain trials.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

ACTRI; 🇺🇸 La Jolla, California, United States