Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Effects on Pain Perception

Study Description

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Brief Summary:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on pain perception.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Pain; Trigeminal Neuralgia; Neuropathic Pain	Device: laboratory pain assessment; Procedure: transcranial magnetic stimulation	Phase 2; Phase 3

Detailed Description:

Chronic pain represents a huge public health concern and is generally poorly understood at a basic neurobiological level. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique that uses electromagnetic pulses to temporarily stimulate specific brain areas in awake people (without the need for surgery, anesthesia, or other invasive procedures). Previous research suggests that TMS may be effective in reducing pain perception in healthy adults and in patients with various types of pain conditions, such as neuropathic pain. However, there is relatively little research on TMS and pain that addresses optimal TMS device parameters, optimal cortical targets, and potential differences in response to TMS between healthy persons and those with chronic pain.

The purpose of this trial is to study the effects of TMS on pain perception. Specifically, this study will determine optimal device parameters (dose) and brain targets for stimulation with TMS in order to reduce pain in patients with neuropathic pain and in healthy adults using laboratory pain methods.

Participants with Neuropathic Pain:

After an initial screening, eligible participants with neuropathic pain will receive a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to help determine the best target for TMS stimulation later in the study. Participants will be asked to record their pain experiences every day for 2-4 weeks before receiving the first of 2 laboratory pain assessments. The laboratory pain assessment uses a small device, controlled by a computer and attached to the underside of the forearm, to produce different temperature stimulations. As the device reaches a level considered painful to the participant, he/she can push a button to return to a level of comfort.

The next part of the trial involves two, 20-minute TMS treatment sessions per day for 5-days. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group A will receive real TMS and Group B will receive "sham" TMS. Study participation time for individuals with TGN is about 8 weeks, including about 10 hours (7 visits) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Healthy Volunteers:

In addition to an interview with researchers regarding medical history, healthy participants will complete a self-report screening to assess pain history and level of depression and anxiety. Eligible participants will be given a laboratory pain assessment, and be randomly assigned to one of two groups: group A will receive real TMS and group B will receive "sham" TMS. After TMS, participants will receive another full laboratory pain assessment and complete questionnaires. For healthy volunteers, participation in the study will take about 3 hours and may be completed in one or two visits.

Study Design

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Study Type :	Interventional (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment :	0 participants
Allocation:	Randomized
Intervention Model:	Crossover Assignment
Masking:	Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary Purpose:	Treatment
Official Title:	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Effects on Pain Perception
Study Start Date :	July 2006
Actual Primary Completion Date :	October 2010
Actual Study Completion Date :	October 2010

Arms and Interventions

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Active Comparator: 1; laboratory pain assessment	Device: laboratory pain assessment; Participants will record their pain experiences every day for 2 weeks before receiving the first of 5 laboratory pain assessments. The laboratory pain assessment uses a small device, controlled by a computer and attached to the underside of the forearm, to produce different temperature stimulations. As the device reaches a level considered painful to the participant, he/she can push a button to return to a level of comfort.
Active Comparator: 2; transcranial magnetic stimulation	Procedure: transcranial magnetic stimulation; There will be two, 20-minute, 3-day TMS treatment sessions. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group A will receive real TMS for the first 3-day treatment and "sham" TMS (which does not involve real stimulation) for the second treatment. Group B will receive "sham" TMS for the first treatment, and real TMS for the second treatment. Regardless of the group, participants will receive both real and "sham" TMS.

Outcome Measures

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Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Clinical neuropathic pain ratings, activity levels, analgesic medication usage, mood ratings, laboratory pain measures (thermal and mechanical pain thresholds, suprathreshold pain ratings, and wind-up pain ratings). [ Time Frame: measured during the study period ]

Eligibility Criteria

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Ages Eligible for Study:	21 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:	All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

For Healthy Adults:

• Between age of 21 and 60
• No prescription medications in previous 3 months
• No seizure history
• No depression
• Not suicidal
• No anxiety
• No hospitalizations or surgeries in previous 6 months
• No history of chronic pain conditions
• No implanted metal devices (e.g., pacemakers, metal plates, wires)
• Not pregnant
• No alcohol abuse/dependence history in previous 6 months
• No illicit drug use in previous 6 months
• Capable of reading, writing, giving consent, following instructions
• No history of brain surgery or history of loss of consciousness >15 minutes
• No history of autoimmune or endocrine disorder
• No significant anxiety about entering MRI scanner

For Patients with neuropathic pain:

• Between age of 21 and 75
• No seizure history
• Not taking medications shown to increase seizure risk (6 months)
• Not suicidal
• No hospitalizations or surgeries in previous 3 months
• No implanted metal devices (e.g., pacemakers, metal plates, wires)
• Not pregnant
• No alcohol abuse/dependence history in previous 6 months
• No illicit drug use in previous 6 months
• Capable of reading, writing, giving consent, following instructions
• Chronic pain (>6 months), not significantly relieved by pharmacological treatment
• No significant anxiety about entering MRI scanner

Contacts and Locations

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Locations

United States, South Carolina
Brain Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Medical University of South Carolina 5-North, IOP, 67 President Street
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical University of South Carolina

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Investigators

Principal Investigator:	Jeffrey J. Borckardt, Ph.D.	Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina

More Information

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Responsible Party:	Medical University of South Carolina
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00349050 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	K23NS050485-01A2 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
First Posted:	July 6, 2006
Last Update Posted:	April 30, 2012
Last Verified:	October 2010

Keywords provided by Medical University of South Carolina:

trigeminal neuralgia; neuropathic pain; complex regional pain syndrome; reflex sympathetic dystrophy; pain	chronic pain; transcranial magnetic stimulation; TMS; laboratory pain assessment

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Neuralgia; Trigeminal Neuralgia; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases	Signs and Symptoms; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases; Facial Neuralgia; Facial Nerve Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Cranial Nerve Diseases