Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Diffuse noxious inhibitory control In order to quantify central sensitization in chronic pain patients, the Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control (DNIC) model has been used frequently. DNIC relies on painful conditioning stimulation of one part of the body to inhibit pain in another part, to remove the "noise" and to focus on relevant stimuli.

Earlier studies provided evidence for malfunctioning of DNIC in Fibromyalgia (FM) patients. However, the cause of this impairment is not yet elucidated, and further study is required to unravel the pathophysiology of DNIC in FM.

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis Besides neural mechanisms, also hormonal abnormalities could cause altered pain processing. Cortisol is released in answer to pain to suppress the pain. Given the evidence for hypofunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the lower cortisol release in response to stressors in a proportion of FM patients and in chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD) patients, the relation between pain and cortisol in these patients may be an interesting topic to consider.

Neurocognitive performance Besides chronic pain, people with chronic WAD and FM suffer from severe concentration difficulties and decreased neurocognitive capabilities (reduced reaction time, short term memory deficits etc. The decreased neurocognitive performance is known to be related to pain severity in various chronic pain populations. It is hypothesized that malfunctioning of descending inhibitory pathways and subsequent chronic pain experience precludes optimal neurocognitive performance.

Objectives The present investigation addresses the (patho)physiological mechanisms of DNIC in chronic pain populations.

1. Firstly, patients with FM, chronic WAD and healthy controls are compared regarding functioning of DNIC, cortisol levels and response and neurocognitive performance (case-control).

2. Secondly, the possible interaction between the functioning of DNIC, cortisol and neurocognitive performance is studied in patients with FM, WAD and healthy control subjects (cross-sectional).

3. Thirdly, to examine whether a fatiguing neurocognitive stressor changes DNIC and cortisol levels in patients with FM, chronic WAD or healthy sedentary control subjects.


Clinical Trial Description

n/a


Study Design

Observational Model: Case-Crossover, Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT01172795
Study type Observational
Source Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Contact Mira Meeus, PhD
Phone 0032 485 58 21 14
Email mmeeus@vub.ac.be
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date July 2010
Completion date August 2011

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT01659073 - Using Perfusion MRI to Measure the Dynamic Changes in Neural Activation Associated With Caloric Vestibular Stimulation N/A
Recruiting NCT05914311 - Use of Dermabond in Mitigation of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) Trial Lead Migration N/A
Recruiting NCT05422456 - The Turkish Version of Functional Disability Inventory
Enrolling by invitation NCT05422443 - The Turkish Version of Pain Coping Questionnaire
Completed NCT05057988 - Virtual Empowered Relief for Chronic Pain N/A
Completed NCT04385030 - Neurostimulation and Mirror Therapy in Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury N/A
Recruiting NCT06206252 - Can Medical Cannabis Affect Opioid Use?
Completed NCT05103319 - Simultaneous Application of Ketamine and Lidocaine During an Ambulatory Infusion Therapy as a Treatment Option in Refractory Chronic Pain Conditions
Completed NCT03687762 - Back on Track to Healthy Living Study N/A
Completed NCT04171336 - Animal-assisted Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Chronic Pain N/A
Completed NCT03179475 - Targin® for Chronic Pain Management in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury Phase 4
Completed NCT03418129 - Neuromodulatory Treatments for Pain Management in TBI N/A
Completed NCT03268551 - MEMO-Medical Marijuana and Opioids Study
Recruiting NCT06060028 - The Power of Touch. Non-Invasive C-Tactile Stimulation for Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain N/A
Recruiting NCT06204627 - TDCS* and Laterality Trainnning in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain N/A
Completed NCT05496205 - A SAD Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and PK/PD of iN1011-N17 in Healthy Volunteers Phase 1
Completed NCT00983385 - Evaluation of Effectiveness and Tolerability of Tapentadol Hydrochloride in Subjects With Severe Chronic Low Back Pain Taking Either WHO Step I or Step II Analgesics or no Regular Analgesics Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05118204 - Randomized Trial of Buprenorphine Microdose Inductions During Hospitalization Phase 4
Terminated NCT03538444 - Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Opiate Use Disorder N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05812703 - Biometrics and Self-reported Health Changes in Adults Receiving Behavioral Treatments for Chronic Pain