Effects of a multimodal pain therapy on neurotransmitter turnover and functional connectivity in patients with chronic back pain.

Effects of a multimodal pain therapy on neurotransmitter turnover and functional connectivity in patients with chronic back pain. - EmPaTh-MRI

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00009849

Enrollment

Registered

2016-01-18

Start date

2016-03-03

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

chronic back pain M54.0 M54.2 M54.3 M54.4 M54.5 M54.6 M54.8 M54.9

Interventions

Group 1: therapy group: patients with chronic back pain (baseline measurement before 4 week multimodal pain therapy and post measurement immediately after the end of therapy) Measurements: resting-sta

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

20 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: (1) chronic back pain since 6 months or more with pain intensity of more than 3 (11-step NRS) that cannot be adequately ascribed to any somatic impairment (2) Age between 20-65 years (3) Right-handedness (4) suitability for MRI assessment (5) written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: (1) primary somatic pain origns (e.g. herniated disc), which can be adressed with other dedicated therapeutic approach (2) sensomotoric deficits of affected back area or corresponding nerve roots (i.e. symptoms of radicular pain) (3) serious neurological or acute psychiatric comorbidities, cerebral abnormailities or brain developement deficits (4) substance addiction (5) benzodiazepine medication

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
resting-state fMRI (functional connectivity) and MEGA-PRESS MR-spectroscopy (GABA and glutamate concentrations) focussing the insular and anterior cingular cortex as well as the medial prefrontal cortex: (1) Comparison of neurotransmitter concentrations and functional connectivity patterns between patients and healthy controls at baseline. (2) Comparisons of neurotransmitter changes and changes in functional connectivity between therapy group and waiting group at baseline and 4 weeks later.	—

Measure

Time frame

resting-state fMRI (functional connectivity) and MEGA-PRESS MR-spectroscopy (GABA and glutamate concentrations) focussing the insular and anterior cingular cortex as well as the medial prefrontal cortex: (1) Comparison of neurotransmitter concentrations and functional connectivity patterns between patients and healthy controls at baseline. (2) Comparisons of neurotransmitter changes and changes in functional connectivity between therapy group and waiting group at baseline and 4 weeks later.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Pain intensities (numeric rating scales), pain interference (Pain Disability Index), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), pain experience (Short Form McGill pain questionnaire), quality of life (SF-12), symptoms of depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale): (1) therapy induced changes in questionnaire in the therapy group and compared to waiting group between baseline and 4 weeks later (2) correlative analysis of changes in neurotransmitter concentration and functional connectivity and questionnaire data	—

Measure

Time frame

Pain intensities (numeric rating scales), pain interference (Pain Disability Index), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), pain experience (Short Form McGill pain questionnaire), quality of life (SF-12), symptoms of depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale): (1) therapy induced changes in questionnaire in the therapy group and compared to waiting group between baseline and 4 weeks later (2) correlative analysis of changes in neurotransmitter concentration and functional connectivity and questionnaire data

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactPhilipp Baumbach

Klinik für Anästhesiologie und IntensivmedizinUniversitätsklinikum Jena

Philipp.Baumbach@med.uni-jena.de+49-3641-9-325798

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026