Survey on Sensory Processing Sensitivity in Chronic Pediatric Pain

NCT04171869 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Sensory Processing Sensitivity
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience and in its chronic form, pain is highly prevalent, up to 25% of children and adolescents are affected by it. The exact etiology of many forms of chronic pain remains unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed to underlie increased pain sensitivity is central sensitization, i.e., increased efficacy of the nervous system in transmitting pain signals, which manifests itself as a lower pain threshold. A lower pain threshold in turn has been recognized as a risk factor for the development of chronic pain. Being more sensitive to pain is one feature commonly shared by those with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), who are thought to react more strongly to both positive and negative environmental influences. The relationship between this increased sensitivity and pain tolerance has not been studied to date, but could contribute to our understanding of why some children and adolescents are more vulnerable to developing chronic pain than others. Objectives and Aims: The aim of this project is to increase scientific understanding of 1) the distribution and correlates of high SPS among children and adolescents suffering from chronic pain, and 2) whether the trait of SPS can help explain increased pain sensitivity and hence vulnerability for chronic pain. Methods: To determine the distribution (aim 1a) and correlates (aim 1b) of SPS among a population of children and adolescents suffering from chronic pain, an online survey will be conducted. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their SPS as well as pain history and pain characteristics. The distribution of SPS will then be compared to an existing distribution in a sample of healthy children and adolescents.

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Highly Sensitive Child Scale

  Sensory Processing Sensitivity

  through study completion, an average of 6 months

• Functional Disability Inventory for children

  Physical functioning and disability in children with chronic pain

  through study completion, an average of 6 months

Interventions

no intervention OTHER

observational study, no intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 17 Years - 19 Years
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Adolescents suffering from persistent or recurrent pain for 3 or more months, community sample, recruited mainly via pain clinics

You may qualify if:

• Adolescents aged 17-19 years
• Persistent or recurrent pain for 3 months or more
• Fluent in German or English

You may not qualify if:

• Younger than 17 or older than 19 years
• Acute pain

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel

Basel, 40555, Switzerland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Helen Koechlin, PhD

  University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Adjunct senior researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2019
• First Posted: November 21, 2019
• Study Start: May 8, 2020
• Primary Completion: August 15, 2020
• Study Completion: September 30, 2020
• Last Updated: October 1, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

CH (1)