RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Emotion and Memory in Chronic Neuropathic Pain

This study aims to understand how chronic facial pain, specifically trigeminal neuralgia, affects a person's memory and emotions. Many people with long-term pain report memory issues and worry about future pain. Researchers believe that ongoing pain might change parts of the brain linked to memory and emotions. To explore this, the study uses special brain scans and memory tests. These tests are done before and after surgical treatment for the pain. By comparing the results from pain patients to healthy individuals, the team hopes to learn more about the links between chronic pain, brain changes, and how people think and feel. This knowledge could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat chronic pain conditions.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Enrolment target

400

Start

12 Feb 2024

Estimated completion

12 Feb 2029

Trigeminal Neuralgia Facial Pain

What is this study about?

Imagine living with a type of intense facial pain called trigeminal neuralgia. It's a condition that can be incredibly distressing. We know that long-lasting pain, not just facial pain, can affect how people remember things and how they experience emotions. In fact, many people with ongoing pain say they have trouble with their memory and often feel anxious about their pain coming back.

This study wants to explore the connection between this kind of chronic pain and changes in the brain. Researchers are particularly interested in parts of the brain that are important for memory and emotions. They believe that ongoing pain might actually alter these brain areas. Understanding these changes could be a big step towards improving how we diagnose and treat chronic pain conditions, helping patients to feel better both physically and mentally.

The research team will use advanced imaging techniques, like special brain scans, to get a detailed look at the brain's structure and how it works. They will also carry out tests to check memory and emotional processing. This will be done with people who have trigeminal neuralgia, both before they have surgery to treat their pain and again afterwards. By comparing their results with healthy individuals, the study hopes to uncover important insights into how chronic pain impacts the brain and how successful pain treatment might reverse some of these effects.

Key takeaways

The study explores how chronic facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia) affects memory and emotions.
It uses advanced brain scans and memory tests to investigate brain changes in pain patients.
Assessments are done before and after pain treatment to see if brain changes improve.
The aim is to better understand what chronic pain does to the brain and how to treat it.
Participation involves brain scans and cognitive tests over several visits.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you would need to be between 35 and 60 years old. It’s important that you don't have other major nerve problems or serious mental health conditions. You also can't have any medical issues that would make having an MRI scan unsafe, and you need to be able to understand and complete the study tasks and questionnaires.

If you have trigeminal neuralgia, you would need to have been experiencing the pain for at least six months and be on stable medication. You must also meet the specific official health criteria for trigeminal neuralgia to be included. They'll also check your basic memory and thinking skills to make sure you can fully take part.

There are also reasons you might not be able to join. These include if you have other ongoing pain conditions (like other types of headaches), untreated high blood pressure or diabetes, a history of drug or alcohol misuse, or if you've had a head injury that affected your thinking. You also can't be taking certain strong medications that affect your brain or emotions, or have conditions like multiple sclerosis or specific injuries near your brain.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 35 and 60 years old?
Do you currently have trigeminal neuralgia pain?
Have you had trigeminal neuralgia for at least 6 months?
Do you NOT have other ongoing painful conditions or serious mental health issues?
Are you able to have an MRI scan safely?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you would have several visits involved. These visits would include detailed memory and thinking tests, which are straightforward tasks designed to assess how your brain processes information. You would also have special brain scans (MRI scans) that give researchers a clear picture of your brain. For people with trigeminal neuralgia, these assessments would be done both before your surgical treatment for pain and again after the surgery, at a later date. This allows the researchers to see if and how your brain changes after the pain has been treated. There are no changes to your current medication, but the study will record what you are taking. The total duration of your involvement could extend over several months, depending on your treatment schedule.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in any research study has potential benefits and risks. For this study, a key benefit is contributing to a better understanding of how chronic pain affects the brain, which could lead to improved treatments for people with conditions like trigeminal neuralgia in the future. You will also receive detailed brain scans and evaluations, which might offer some reassurance. As for risks, MRI scans are generally safe but involve being in a confined space, which some people find uncomfortable. There's also the time commitment for the assessments. Remember, your participation is completely voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

Toronto Western Hospital
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

It's a type of long-lasting facial pain that causes sudden, severe stinging or shock-like pain in the face.

Why are brain scans important?

Brain scans help researchers see if chronic pain leads to changes in the brain's structure or how it works, especially in areas linked to memory and emotions.

Will taking part help my pain directly?

While this study might not directly improve your pain, the information gathered could help doctors understand and treat chronic pain better in the future.

Do I have to stop my current medication?

No, you don't need to stop your medications. The researchers will simply record what you are currently taking.

What does 'cognitive assessments' mean?

These are tests that check your memory, attention, and other thinking skills to see how your brain is working.

How to find out more

Jacob Kim, BSc

jacob.kim@uhn.ca 4163404907 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.