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Brain Imaging Study for Chronic Back Pain

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Javeria A Hashmi, PhD

Research Sponsored by Nova Scotia Health Authority

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Healthy participant: 18 - 75 years of age

Healthy participant: Comfortable completing (reading and writing) questionnaires and tasks with English language instructions

Must not have

Healthy participant: Acute or chronic pain

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 3 days after first visit

Summary

This trial aims to study the factors related to a person that can enhance or reduce the effectiveness of pain treatments in people suffering with chronic pain.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults aged 18-75 with chronic low back pain lasting over 6 months and experiencing moderate pain. Participants must be right-handed, comfortable with English, and able to undergo MRI scans without contraindications like metal implants or claustrophobia. Healthy volunteers matching the age and hand dominance criteria but without pain or significant health issues can also join.

What is being tested?

The study is exploring how brain imaging can reveal biomarkers related to chronic back pain treatment effectiveness. It involves comparing responses of individuals on placebos, those on a waitlist, and healthy controls to understand the influence of biological, psychological, and social factors.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this study primarily uses brain imaging rather than medication interventions, side effects are minimal but may include discomfort from staying still during MRI scans or anxiety in closed spaces.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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I am between 18 and 75 years old.

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I am comfortable with reading and writing in English for tasks and questionnaires.

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I have had chronic low back pain for more than 6 months.

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My average pain level has been 4 or more out of 10 in the past two weeks.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I do not have any ongoing pain issues.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 3 days after first visit

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~3 days after first visit

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 3 days after first visit for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Pain modulation - using an experimental task that tests a person's ability to form positive expectations

Trial Design

3Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: WaitlistExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Chronic Back Pain participants will not be given any placebo and will be requested to report their pain on paper forms organized as a calendar.

Group II: PlacebosExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Chronic Back Pain participants will enter an optional placebo trial. This phase of the study will test the clinical usefulness of the biomarkers. We will measure how expectation of starting a new treatment reduces 'clinical back pain' in each participant. Positive treatment expectations will be induced by giving them capsules containing inert material and telling them that the capsules contain an effective drug that has been approved for treating Chronic Back Pain. They will be requested to take two capsules twice a day and report their pain on paper forms organized as a calendar.

Group III: Healthy ControlsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Healthy control participants will complete the main part of the study, but will not be asked to take a placebo or be placed on a waitlist.

0 / 5Eligibility criteria met