Objective Measurement of Pain Regulation in Individuals Who Have Received Internet-delivered Exposure-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Internet-delivered exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy: The primary treatment component is exposure to stimuli (situations and activities) that give rise to pain, distress, and unwanted emotional responses. The treatment proceeds in accordance with functional analysis. Exercises are tailored for the patient so that, for example, individuals whose main coping strategy is to be overly active (i.e., persistence behavior) are encouraged to sit down and observe pain and other aversive bodily sensations as they arise. The protocol also includes regular exercises where the participant is encouraged to observe and name physical sensations without acting on them.

Study summary

Fibromyalgia: a common problem that requires treatment Fibromyalgia (FM) is a highly prevalent pain syndrome characterized by generalized pain and fatigue, often leading to extensive somatic and psychological distress. The condition is associated with significant suffering and low functional capacity, and also entails high societal costs, as those affected have high levels of healthcare consumption, sick leave, and unemployment. The cause of FM is still unclear and there is no effective treatment. The most evaluated treatment is traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which, however, appears to have only minor effects on FM.

Exposure-based treatment promising Internet-based exposure-based CBT (Exp-CBT) has previously been evaluated for fibromyalgia in two randomized controlled studies. In the first study, participants (N=140) were randomised to 10 weeks of Exp-CBT or a waiting list. The results showed that iExp had a strong effect on central FM symptoms, pain, fatigue, function and pain-related anxiety. The study also showed that iExp, compared to no treatment, is cost-effective, and that reduced FM-related avoidance behaviors drove the treatment effect. In the second study, participants (N=274) were randomized to Exp-CBT or internet-based traditional CBT (T-CBT). The results showed no significant difference between the groups after treatment. Both groups showed a marked improvement, with an average of 60% (Exp-CBT) and 59% (T-CBT) achieving a reliable change in their symptoms. People with fibromyalgia who receive exposure-based CBT thus appear to experience, on average, a reduction in symptoms and increased function. To date, studies investigating exposure-based treatment for chronic pain have used self-assessment scales to measure the effect of treatment, which is reasonable since pain is a subjective experience. However, one limitation of this is that the investigators therefore have no objective data on whether the aforementioned treatment can also lead to changes in various aspects of pain regulation, i.e., that the brain changes the way it interprets and processes pain.

Objective measurement of pain regulation The present study is a longitudinal within-group study, in which the investigators intend to objectively measure various aspects of pain regulation in participants with fibromyalgia (N=45) before and after they have received internet-based exposure-based CBT. Participants undergo pain testing 10 weeks before (T0), at the start of treatment (T1), and at the end of treatment (T2), in order to measure the effect of treatment on participants' pain thresholds, pain tolerance, descending pain inhibitory function, and pain upregulation.

Significant potential benefits for patients, healthcare, and society In this study, the investigators want to investigate whether the investigators can objectively see if different aspects of pain regulation are affected in participants who receive the aforementioned treatment. The study is a so-called mechanistic study, i.e., a study to understand more about how our treatment achieves its effect. Such a study makes it possible to be more precise and likely to make the treatment even more effective. The study would also contribute important knowledge to better understand the pain mechanisms in fibromyalgia, a condition with high prevalence and considered very difficult to treat.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Conditioned pain modulation — 10 weeks before treatment start, pre-treatment, post-treatment (10 weeks).
  The degree to which pain in one area of the body is reduced when a different painful stimulus is applied elsewhere. Measured by quantitative sensory testing; a test battery with various psychophysical pain tests combined with a visual analog scale. The test is performed using two computer-controlled pressure cuffs, placed on the left and right calves, for controlled induction of pain using pressure.
• Pain tolerance — 10 weeks before treatment start, pre-treatment, post-treatment (10 weeks).
  Measured by quantitative sensory testing; a test battery with various psychophysical pain tests combined with a visual analog scale. The test is performed using two computer-controlled pressure cuffs, placed on the left and right calves, for controlled induction of pain using pressure.
• Pain threshold — 10 weeks before treatment start, pre-treatment, post-treatment (10 weeks).
  Measured by quantitative sensory testing; a test battery with various psychophysical pain tests combined with a visual analog scale. The test is performed using two computer-controlled pressure cuffs, placed on the left and right calves, for controlled induction of pain using pressure.
• Temporal summation — 10 weeks before treatment start, pre-treatment, post-treatment (10 weeks).
  The subjective pain response at repetitive pain stimulation. Measured by quantitative sensory testing; a test battery with various psychophysical pain tests combined with a visual analog scale. The test is performed using two computer-controlled pressure cuffs, placed on the left and right calves, for controlled induction of pain using pressure.

Trial sites (2)

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