Developing Brain Stimulation as a Treatment for Chronic Pain in Opiate Dependent

Early Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Chronic Pain; Opiate Dependence; Lower Back Pain
• Interventions: Device: cTBS to the mPFC; Device: Sham cTBS to the mPFC; Device: iTBS to the left dlPFC; Device: Sham iTBS to the left dlPFC

• Registration Number: NCT03681769
• Lead Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

Brief Summary

Effective control of chronic pain is a top priority in the United States, as approximately 10% of adults have severe chronic pain - most of which is chronic lower back pain (CLBP). However, despite the advances in neuroscience over the past 20 years, chronic pain is still largely treated with opiate narcotics, much as was done in the Civil War. In addition to the high abuse liability and dependence potential, only 30-40% of chronic pain patients declare they receive satisfactory (\>50%) relief from their pain through pharmacological treatment. In these patients a common clinical practice is to escalate the dose of opiates as tolerance develops - which unfortunately has contributed to escalation in opiate overdose deaths, a resurgence of intravenous heroin use, and $55 billion in societal costs. Consequently there is a critical need for new, treatments that can treat pain and reduce reliance on opiates in individuals with chronic pain.

Aim 1. Evaluate repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as a tool to dampen pain and the engagement of the Pain Network. Hypothesis 1: DLPFC TMS will attenuate the baseline brain response to pain (Pain Network activity) and increase activity in the Executive Control Network (ECN) when the patient is given instructions to 'control' the pain.

Aim 2. Evaluate Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) rTMS as a tool to dampen pain and the engagement of the Pain Network. Hypothesis 1: MPFC TMS will also attenuate the baseline brain response to pain (Pain Network activity) but will not effect the ECN or the Salience Network (SN) when the patient is given instructions to 'control' the pain.

Detailed Description

The goal of this proposal is to evaluate two novel non-invasive brain stimulation strategies to mitigate pain and the brain's response to pain in CLBP patients. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), can induce long term potentiation (LTP-like) and long term depression (LTD-like) effects on brain activity in a frequency dependent manner. The investigators have previously demonstrated that LTP-like TMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, a node in the Executive Control Network (ECN)) can decrease perceived pain and corresponding Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal in the "Pain Network'. The Pain Network is an expansion of the Salience Network (SN; insula, dorsal anterior cingulate) which includes the thalamus and somatosensory cortex. The analgesic effects of DLPFC TMS can be blocked by naloxone - suggesting that the analgesic effects of LTP-like DLPFC TMS are opiate mediated. Additionally, DLPFC TMS delivered postoperatively leads to less patient administered morphine use (PCA-pump) in the hospital and less opiate use in the outpatient setting. These data all suggest that LTP-like DLPFC TMS is a promising candidate for treating pain.

An alternative strategy is to apply LTD-like stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex (LTD-like mPFC rTMS. This strategy is based on the understanding of functional neural architecture, wherein the SN is modulated by two other core networks: the ECN and the default mode network (DMN). As stated above, it is possible to attenuate activity in the SN through LTP-like TMS to the DLPFC, a node in the ECN. It is also possible to attenuate the SN through LTD-like TMS to the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (a node in the DMN). The proposed study will be the first to employ a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled design to parametrically evaluate the longitudinal effects of 16 days of rTMS to the DLPFC (Aim 1) or the MPFC (Aim 2) on self-reported pain and the brain's response to pain. This will be done in a cohort of patients recruited from the community as well as Medical University of South Carolina clinics with chronic lower back pain that may or may not be using prescription opiates for 3 or more months without adequate pain relief. Participants will be randomized to receive rTMS to the DLPFC (10Hz), MPFC (cTBS), or sham (50% at each site), using a Latin square randomization. Resting state connectivity will be collected along with data from a standardized thermal pain paradigm wherein individuals are exposed to pain and instructed to try to "control' the pain. MRI data will be collected 3 times: before the 1st day of TMS, after the 12th day of TMS, and before the 16th day of TMS (the last day administered).

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-09-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-09-20
• Study First Posted: 2018-09-24
• Study Start: 2019-02-22
• Primary Completion: 2021-03-19
• Study Completion: 2021-03-19
• Results First Submitted: 2022-10-18
• Status Verified: 2023-01
• Results First Submitted QC: 2023-01-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-01-27
• Results First Posted: 2023-02-10
• Last Update Posted: 2023-02-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 to 75 (to maximize participation)
• Currently using prescription opiates
• Able to read and understand questionnaires and informed consent.
• Is not at elevated risk of seizure (i.e., does not have a history of seizures, is not currently prescribed medications known to lower seizure threshold)
• Does not have metal objects in the head/neck.
• Does not have a history of traumatic brain injury, including a head injury that resulted in hospitalization, loss of consciousness for more than 10 minutes, or having ever been informed that they have an epidural, subdural, or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Does not have a history of claustrophobia leading to significant clinical anxiety symptoms.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Any psychoactive illicit substance use (except marijuana and nicotine) within the last 30 days by self-report and urine drug screen. For marijuana, no use within the last seven days by verbal report and negative (or decreasing) urine Carboxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol levels.
• Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV criteria for current axis I disorders of major depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, dissociate disorders, eating disorders, and any other psychotic disorder or organic mental disorder.
• Has current suicidal ideation or homicidal ideation.
• Has the need for maintenance or acute treatment with any psychoactive medication including anti-seizure medications and medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
• Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant (by urine human chorionic gonadotropin level), nursing, or who are not using a reliable form of birth control.
• Has current charges pending for a violent crime (not including driving under the influence related offenses).
• Does not have a stable living situation.
• Suffers from chronic migraines.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
cTBS to the mPFC	cTBS to the mPFC	For continuous theta burst stimulation (Aim 2), participants will receive 1 train of stimulation over the left frontal pole (FP1) (each train: 3 pulse bursts presented at 5 hertz, 15 pulses/sec for 40 sec, 600 pulses/train, 110% resting motor threshold, MagPro; 600 pulses total) using a figure 8 coil (Coil Cool-B65 A/P). This protocol has been shown to attenuate the mPFC and striatum in cocaine dependent individuals in the past (61-63) and has been more effective than 1200 or 1800 pulses of cTBS in attenuating depression (The time between the end of the TBS procedures and the beginning of the behavioral assessments, as well as the scalp-to-cortex distance (which effects the actual TMS dose given to the cortex) will be compiled and used as covariates in subsequent analyses.
Sham cTBS to the mPFC	Sham cTBS to the mPFC	The MagVenture MagPro system has an integrated, active sham which passes current through two surface electrodes placed on the scalp. The electrodes will be placed on the left frontalis muscle for all sessions. A patient identification card will randomize participants to receive either real or sham stimulation. This system maintains blinding by a gyroscope in the coil which indicates to the clinical staff whether the coil should be rotated up or down for this participant once the card is entered into the machine. One side of the coil is active, the other is sham. The integrity of the double-blind procedure will be assessed by asking the patients and study personnel rate their confidence regarding whether they thought they received real or sham (scale 1-10).
Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) to the left dlPFC	iTBS to the left dlPFC	For intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) (Aim 1), participants will receive 20 trains of stimulation over the dlPFC (middle frontal gyrus) (F3) (each train: 3 pulse bursts presented at 5 hertz, 15 pulses/sec for 2 sec, 8 sec rest, 200 pulses/train; 110% resting motor threshold, MagPro; 600 pulses total) using a figure 8 coil (Coil Cool-B65 A/P).
Sham iTBS to the left dlPFC	Sham iTBS to the left dlPFC	The MagVenture MagPro system has an integrated, active sham which passes current through two surface electrodes placed on the scalp. The electrodes will be placed on the left frontalis muscle for all sessions. A patient identification card will randomize participants to receive either real or sham stimulation. This system maintains blinding by a gyroscope in the coil which indicates to the clinical staff whether the coil should be rotated up or down for this participant once the card is entered into the machine. One side of the coil is active, the other is sham. The integrity of the double-blind procedure will be assessed by asking the patients and study personnel rate their confidence regarding whether they thought they received real or sham (scale 1-10).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Quantitative Pain Testing Following Active TMS Compared to Baseline	Change from baseline to 16 weeks	Based on pilot data, the investigators expect an interaction between treatment (DLPFC or MC rTMS) and time (Before vs. After rTMS) on reported painfulness using a quantitative sensory testing technique that determines thermal pain threshold.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Patient Reported Pain and Discomfort	Patient reported pain/discomfort at 16 weeks.	The investigators expect reductions in self reported pain assessment via a numeric pain rating scale when comparing active vs sham. Pain rating values will be assessed and reported through the duration of the study. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain has a range of 0 to 10 where 0=no pain/discomfort and 10=worst pain/discomfort imaginable. Higher scores mean more pain/discomfort.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Medical University of South Carolina; 🇺🇸 Charleston, South Carolina, United States