The Role of Sensory Processing Sensitivity in Pediatric Chronic Pain

NCT04473014 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Heat Pain
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this project is to increase scientific understanding of whether the trait of SPS can help explain increased pain sensitivity and hence vulnerability for chronic pain. Additionally, it will be tested whether participants with high SPS report differences in pain intensity in response to positive, negative, or neutral mood induction compared to individuals with lower SPS.

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Keywords

sensory processing sensitivity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Threshold

  Temperature point where participants feel it changing from "hot" to "painful"

  1 day

• Pain Tolerance

  the time in seconds elapsed from the onset of the pain stimulus to a participant's withdrawal from the stimulus

  1 day

Study Arms (3)

Positive Mood

This group will be exposed to a positive mood induction prior to heat pain.

Behavioral: Heat Pain Paradigm

Negative Mood

This group will be exposed to a negative mood induction prior to heat pain.

Behavioral: Heat Pain Paradigm

Neutral Mood

This group will be exposed to a neutral mood induction prior to heat pain.

Behavioral: Heat Pain Paradigm

Interventions

Heat Pain Paradigm BEHAVIORAL

A standardized heat pain paradigm will be applied. Pain threshold will be determined with the self-controlled search method starting at 32°C, with a mouse-click-induced increase of 0.1°C per click. Pain tolerance is defined as the time in seconds elapsed from the onset of the pain stimulus to a participant's withdrawal from the stimulus. Participants will be instructed to continue with the task for as long as they can and to press a button if it becomes too uncomfortable or painful. Temperature will then return to baseline. To avoid physical injury, the measurement will stop automatically at a maximum temperature of 50°C.

Negative Mood; Neutral Mood; Positive Mood

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 19 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be recruited from local schools and at the University of Basel, Switzerland.

You may qualify if:

• Healthy adolescents aged 16-19 years

You may not qualify if:

• Chronic pain or another chronic condition
• Skin pathologies
• Sensory abnormalities affecting the tactile or thermal modality
• Pregnancy
• Current medication
• Current psychological or psychiatric treatment
• Insufficient language skills to understand the instructions

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 of Basel, Switzerland; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Adjunct Senior Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 30, 2020
• First Posted: July 16, 2020
• Study Start: June 21, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2022
• Study Completion: May 15, 2022
• Last Updated: May 18, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-05

Locations

CH (1)