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Pain Sensitivity Assessment During Puberty for Pain

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD

Research Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

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

Must have

Aged 9-16 years old

English speakers

Must not have

Lack of sensation in the testable limb

Regular use of pain medications (e.g., opioids, antidepressants)

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 3 years

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trialstudies pain sensitivity in adolescents during puberty and its relation to sex hormone levels and chronic pain risk.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for healthy boys and girls aged 9-16 who speak English. It's not for those who are pregnant, have chronic pain or frequent headaches, psychiatric or neurological issues, sensation loss in limbs to be tested, conditions affecting puberty, or take regular pain meds.

What is being tested?

The study tests how sensitive kids at different stages of puberty are to pain using various methods like heat and pressure. It looks at whether hormone levels affect this sensitivity and if changes during puberty might predict future chronic pain risk.

What are the potential side effects?

Since the trial involves non-invasive testing rather than medication or surgery, side effects may include temporary discomfort from the sensory tests such as mild soreness or irritation where pressure or thermal stimuli were applied.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

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

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I am between 9 and 16 years old.

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I speak English.

Exclusion Criteria

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

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I cannot feel anything in one of my limbs.

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I regularly use medications for pain management.

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I often have headaches, more than 5 times a month.

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I have a psychiatric or neurological disorder.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 3 years

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~3 years

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 3 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

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

Primary study objectives

Conditioned pain modulation

Pain ratings for cold stimuli

Pain ratings for heat stimuli

+1 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Psychophysical assessments of experimental painExperimental Treatment10 Interventions

At baseline, participants will complete a 2.5-hours study session. In the study session, psychophysical assessments of thermal and pressure stimuli will be performed and sex hormone levels will be analyzed. In addition, demographic, social, pubertal maturation, behavioral and psychological factors will be collected via questionnaires. In the optional follow-up portion, participants can complete short surveys every 3 months and/or return for study visits after 6 months and/or after every year depending on the participant's availability. The study visits will include the same procedures as the baseline study visit. Additional surveys regarding new symptoms of pain will be completed. In some cases, participants will meet a pediatric physician who will determine if they meet the criteria for any pain syndrome (for research purposes only).

0 / 6Eligibility criteria met