Shifting Away From Pain: Neurocognitive Approach to Explain and Predict Recovery Following Whipla… (NCT05161767) | Clinical Trial Compass
TerminatedNot Applicable
Shifting Away From Pain: Neurocognitive Approach to Explain and Predict Recovery Following Whiplash Injury
Stopped: Difficult recruitment of acute patients via emergency services due to COVID-19. The required sample size was consequently not reached within the PhD period of the involved researchers.
Belgium37 participantsStarted 2020-01-06
Plain-language summary
Around half of the patients with neck pain after trauma (whiplash) will develop chronic pain. Understanding the transition from acute to chronic pain after whiplash is a priority since will help to identify those which patients are likely to fully recover and who do not. In the last years, there have been a call for an investigation of new biomarkers; particularly in brain structure and function. Alterations in the structure of the brain (gray matter, white matter and cortical thickness) as well as the brain function have been found in people with chronic WAD; which are also correlated with pain, disability and symptoms of central sensitization such as hyperalgesia. Previous research has found structural and functional brain differences between people who develop chronic low back pain compared to those who recovered; but research in this vein is still lacking in people with whiplash. Consequently, this study aims to examine the neural correlates of recovery following whiplash injury.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Whiplash patients
Inclusion Criteria:
* Neck pain within 4 weeks after the trauma
* Native Dutch speaker
* Refraining from consuming caffeine, alcohol and nicotine in the hour before the MRI scans in both measurement times
Exclusion Criteria:
* Neuropathic pain
* Being pregnant
* A history of a chronic pain syndrome
* Chronic fatigue syndrome
* Fibromyalgia
* Cardiovascular disorders
* Epilepsy
* Endocrinological disorders
* Rheumatic disorders
* Psychiatric disorders
* History of neck surgery
* Loss of consciousness during/after the whiplash trauma
* MRI incompatible health condition (e.g., pacemaker, metal prosthetic devices)
* Claustrophobia.
Healthy volunteers: (matched for age and gender). Additional exclusion criteria include for healthy volunteers
* a history of a chronic pain syndrome
* a pain condition in the last six months for which treatment was sought
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal (functional MRI) during picture imagination task and during resting state
Timeframe: Baseline and 6-months follow-up
2
Structural MRI measures (i.e., grey and white matter)