The Role of Limbic Subcortical Structures and Cognition in Chronic Neuropathic Pain

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral, Diagnostic test
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Chronic pain affects one in four Canadians, leading to severe personal and societal costs. Over 70% of chronic pain patients report memory difficulties and fear having unexpected pain. Abnormalities in brain structures associated with emotion and memory, including the hippocampus and amygdala, can be affected by chronic pain. Understanding the relationship between chronic pain, structural brain changes, and cognitive functioning will lead to improved diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in chronic pain disorders. In this project, the investigators will use advanced brain imaging techniques that assess the structure and function of the brain along with cognitive assessments to examine the overlap between chronic pain and emotion-memory processes. The study team will conduct the study using an excellent model of chronic pain-trigeminal neuralgia, a severe form of facial pain that responds well to surgical treatment. Brain images and cognitive data will be collected from participants before and after surgical treatment for pain. This information will be analyzed and compared with age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. This study will be the first to thoroughly investigate relationships between brain structure and function, cognition (memory, emotion), and promises to impact our understanding of chronic neuropathic pain conditions.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 35
Maximum Age: 60
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:

• Age between 35 and 60 years old

• Absence of other active major neurological or psychiatric disorders

• Absence of MRI contraindications

• Able to communicate sufficiently to complete tasks and questionnaires

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score greater than 23/30 (MoCA ≤23/30 could indicate severe cognitive impairment)

• Experiencing TN pain over a period of 6 months

• Stable medication use

• Meet established diagnostic criteria for TN (ICHD-3)

Locations
Other Locations
Canada
Toronto Western Hospital
RECRUITING
Toronto
Contact Information
Primary
Jacob Kim, BSc
jacob.kim@uhn.ca
4163404907
Backup
Patcharaporn Srisaikaew, PhD
patcharaporn.srisaikaew@uhn.ca
4163404907
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-02-12
Estimated Completion Date: 2029-02-12
Participants
Target number of participants: 400
Treatments
Healthy Controls
Brain imaging, clinical data, and cognitive data will be prospectively collect and analyze in both healthy control and patients with trigeminal neuralgia groups. Prospective data collection for control group includes:~* MRI scan (1 timepoint)~* Neuropsychological assessments (1 timepoint)
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuralgia is the most common chronic neuropathic facial pain disorder, characterized by the sudden onset of intermittent, intense, shock-like pain in distributions of the trigeminal nerve branches. TN has several unique features that distinguish it as an ideal model for the study of chronic pain: TN is largely unilateral; is severe in its nature; has stereotypical presentation among patients; and is not associated with other sensory deficits observed in other chronic pain disorders, such as numbness.~Brain imaging, clinical data, and cognitive data will be prospectively collect and analyze in both healthy control and patients with trigeminal neuralgia groups. Prospective data collection for TN group includes:~* MRI scan (2 timepoints; pre- and 6-month post-surgery)~* Neuropsychological assessments (2 timepoints; pre- and 6-month post-surgery)
Sponsors
Leads: University Health Network, Toronto

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov