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Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Chronic Corneal Pain

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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01575002
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : April 10, 2012
Last Update Posted : April 24, 2020
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Felipe Fregni, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Study Description
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Brief Summary:
In this study the investigators aim to examine the effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on pain levels as well as the changes in cognitive (thought) processing in individuals with chronic pain of the cornea -- and also compared with healthy controls.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Corneal Pain Chronic Pain Neuropathic Pain Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Not Applicable

Study Design
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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 26 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Official Title: Neural Correlates of Pain-related Cognitive Processing in Chronic Pain of the Cornea: an ERP and Electrical Stimulation Study.
Study Start Date : January 2012
Actual Primary Completion Date : September 2015
Actual Study Completion Date : September 2015

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus related topics: Chronic Pain

Arms and Interventions
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Arm Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Active tDCS
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of active tDCS stimulation.
 Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Subjects will undergo 2 sessions of 20 minutes of tDCS stimulation (either active or sham)in a randomized order - each session will be separated by at least one week to prevent carry-over effects.
Other Name: 1x1 direct current stimulator; Soterix Medical
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of sham tDCS stimulation.
 Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Subjects will undergo 2 sessions of 20 minutes of tDCS stimulation (either active or sham)in a randomized order - each session will be separated by at least one week to prevent carry-over effects.
Other Name: 1x1 direct current stimulator; Soterix Medical


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Changes in pain scales [ Time Frame: Measured for approximately 2 weeks ]
    We will measure changes in the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and also measure pain threshold (using an algometer) before and after each stimulation session. We will compare the measurements from before stimulation to after stimulation, in each scheduled session, as this study is measuring the effects of a single session of tDCS.


Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Changes in EEG measurements [ Time Frame: Measured for approximately 2 weeks ]
    We will measure changes in event related potentials (ex. P300, mismatch negativity) recorded via electroencephalography (EEG) before and after each stimulation session. We will compare the measurements from before stimulation to after stimulation, in each scheduled session, as this study is measuring the effects of a single session of tDCS.


Eligibility Criteria
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Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 65 Years   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria (for all subjects):

  1. Provide informed consent to participate in the study;
  2. 18 to 65 years old;

Additional Inclusion Criteria for Subjects with Chronic Corneal Pain:

  1. Corneal pain for six months or more;
  2. Referral from a corneal specialist (Dr. Perry Rosenthal) with refractoriness to conventional ophthalmologic treatments for corneal pain such as local topical medications and soft bandage contact lenses;
  3. Report a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain of 4 or greater in the previous 3 weeks;

Exclusion Criteria (for all subjects):

  1. History of alcohol or substance abuse within the last 6 months as self-reported;
  2. Diagnosis of any neurological diseases (such as epilepsy);
  3. Episodes of seizures within the last 6 months;
  4. Unexplained loss of consciousness
  5. Use of carbamazepine or neuropsychotropic drugs

  6. Contraindications to tDCS

    • Metal in the head
    • Implanted brain medical devices
  7. Pregnant at time of enrollment
Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01575002


Locations
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United States, Massachusetts
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Sponsors and Collaborators
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Felipe Fregni, MD PHD MPH Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
More Information
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Responsible Party: Felipe Fregni, Associate Professor, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01575002    
Other Study ID Numbers: 2011-p-001902
First Posted: April 10, 2012    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: April 24, 2020
Last Verified: April 2020

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Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
Keywords provided by Felipe Fregni, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital:
transcranial stimulation
direct current stimulation
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Neuralgia
Chronic Pain
Pain
Neurologic Manifestations
 Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Nervous System Diseases