View clinical trials related to Chiari Malformation.
Filter by:Twenty percent of US adults report chronic pain symptoms. Both psychological symptoms and sleep issues commonly co-occur with chronic pain. Chronic pain is a frequently reported symptoms of Chiari Malformation (CM); however, the cause of pain symptoms is not fully understood, and pain is not associated with the extent of neural abnormality in CM. ACT is not a set of techniques, but rather a way of thinking. ACT encourages acceptance, as opposed to avoidance of unwanted feelings, all in the context of mindfulness (i.e., being aware of one's present environment and in tune with internal thoughts and emotions). ACT has been found to be successful at reducing pain perceptions and targeting multiple symptoms at one time. However, ACT has not been examined in CM and it is unknown whether ACT will improve sleep as well as pain-related symptoms. The purpose of the current study is to assess the efficacy of an online ACT intervention at reducing pain interference and sleep dysfunction symptoms in a sample with CM. It is hypothesized that CM patients may benefit from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). More specifically it is hypothesized that the treatment group will report significantly less pain interference and psychological flexibility compared to the control group. It is also hypothesize that ACT will mediate the relationship between sleep dysfunction and pain interference. Based on power analyses the sample size will be 56. The sample will be recruited online and randomized to the treatment or control group. The intervention will consist of eight modules that are administered weekly over eight weeks. Additionally, a 7-day sleep diary will be administered the week prior to the intervention and the week after the intervention. Follow up assessments will be administered upon completion of the 8-week intervention (at the beginning of week 9), 1-month after, and 3 months after the completion of the intervention.
This research study is to find out which types of dural grafts used during surgery for Chiari Malformations are superior. We believe that autologous dural grafts are superior to non-autologous grafts.
The study evaluates two materials used for duraplasty of the posterior cranial fossa in treatment of Chiari malformation. One material (DuraGen) is a non-suturable collagen matrix that is applied over the defect if brain coverings (dura); the other (DuraGuard) is made out of bovine pericardium and has to be sutured during application. The study compares these two materials used for duraplasty of patients undergoing Chiari surgery in a prospective randomized fashion to check the rate of surgical complications associated with each material, patient's outcomes, length of surgery and the hospital stay, etc.