Influence of Gaze Shift and Emotions on Symptoms of Blepharospasm
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Purpose
Blepharospasm (BEB) is a focal dystonia characterized by forceful, involuntary contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle. (Jankovic et al 1983) Patients with BEB report task and situation specific modulations of their symptoms. So called "sensory tricks" are actions that minimize symptoms and include concentrating, talking, pulling on the eyelids, blowing air, and applying pressure to the periocular or temple region. (Weiner 1984) Many patients describe that other tasks/situations are exacerbate their symptoms specifically under bright fluorescent lights and stress. (Burke 1984) Earlier studies showed that blink patterns differ between BEB patients and control during rest, reading and talking.
In healthy subjects gaze evoked blinks are a physiologic phenomenon: initiation of gaze shifts evoke a blink, blinks facilitate gaze shifts. (Evinger 1994) In healthy subjects emotions and thoughts influence gaze shifts and blink rate. (Leal 2008, de Genaro 1988) However, little is known about various task and emotion specific influences on symptoms of BEB (e.g. expecting a gaze shift might worsen symptoms while driving a car).
Differences in emotion and gaze related blink patterns between patients and controls will contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of BEB. This might offer new therapeutic options, e.g. symptom modulation.
The investigators hypothesize that blink patterns, measured by duration and frequency of pupillary occlusion differ between patients and control, when performing gaze shifts and emotion related blink patterns, measured by duration and frequency of pupillary occlusion differ between patients and controls.
The aim of this pilot trial is to assess differences in gaze evoked and emotion related blink patterns between patients and controls. These differences might contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of BEB.
| Condition |
|---|
|
Pupillary Occlusion |
| Study Type: | Observational |
| Study Design: | Observational Model: Case Control Time Perspective: Prospective |
| Official Title: | The Influence of Gaze Shift and Emotions on Symptoms of Blepharospasm- a Pilot Study. |
- Duration and frequency of pupillary occlusion [ Time Frame: At baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Duration and frequency of pupillary occlusion during different tasks and situations will be studied via videooculography
- Number of blinks and spasms. [ Time Frame: At baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Number of blinks and spasms, registered by videotape of the eyes during different tasks and situations.
| Estimated Enrollment: | 40 |
| Study Start Date: | January 2013 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | January 2014 |
| Estimated Primary Completion Date: | January 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
| Groups/Cohorts |
|---|
|
Blepharospasm
Blepharospasm, patient's group
|
|
Control
Healthy control subjects
|
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
| Sampling Method: | Probability Sample |
20 patients suffering from BEB, age 18-80 from our Botulinum toxin clinic will be investigated.
For controls,20 healthy age matched subjects will be investigated. All participants will sign an informed consent.
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients:
- Willing to participate
- Idiopathic blepharospasm
- Age 18-80
- Last botulinum toxin injection <3months
Control:
- Willing to participate
- Age and sex matched with patients
- Age18-80
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients:
- Secondary blepharospasm
- Neurologic Comorbidities
- Other eye disease besides BEB
- History of neuroleptic medication
- Use of medications on the study day, that influence eye blinks& attention
- Drinking of caffeine or theine containing beverages on the study day
Patients and Control:
- Intake of psychotropic drugs at day of examination
- History of neuroleptic medication
- present eye disease
- Neurologic diseases that influence blinking
- Use of medications on the study day, that influence eye blinks& attention
- Drinking of caffeine or theine containing beverages on the study day
Contacts and Locations| Contact: Gottfried Kranz, Doz.Dr. | +43 1 40400 ext 3120 | gottfried.kranz@meduniwien.ac.at |
| Contact: Kirsten Elwischger, Dr. | +43 699 11605963 | kirsten_elwischger@hotmail.com |
| Austria | |
| Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna | Not yet recruiting |
| Vienna, Austria, 1090 | |
| Contact: Gottfried Kranz, Doz.Dr. +43 1 40400 ext 3120 gottfried.kranz@meduniwien.ac.at | |
| Contact: Kirsten Elwischger, Dr. +43 699 11605963 kirsten_elwischger@hotmail.com | |
| Sub-Investigator: Kirsten Elwischger, Dr. | |
| Sub-Investigator: Gottfried Kranz, Doz.Dr. | |
| Principal Investigator: | Thomas Sycha, Prof.Dr. | Medical University of Vienna |
More Information
Publications:
| Responsible Party: | Kirsten Elwischger, MD, Dr. Kirsten Elwischger, Medical University of Vienna |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01759745 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | BEB_Gaze_Emotion |
| Study First Received: | December 31, 2012 |
| Last Updated: | January 2, 2013 |
| Health Authority: | Austria: Ethikkommission |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Blepharospasm Pupil Disorders Eyelid Diseases Eye Diseases |
Neurologic Manifestations Nervous System Diseases Signs and Symptoms |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 23, 2013