Pain Neuroscience Education and Memory

ConditionChronic Pain

Trial statusNot yet recruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age18+

SponsorEvidence In Motion

About this trial

Brief Summary:

The goal of this observational study (case series) is to determine whether Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) can influence memory function and sensory awareness in adults (18 years and older) experiencing chronic pain lasting more than one year.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does a single PNE session improve memory performance, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)?

Does PNE change sensory awareness, as represented by alterations in body pain drawings using a grid overlay method?

Participants will:

Complete pre-intervention assessments, including:

Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

Body chart drawing to map pain area

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Pain Catastrophization Scale (PCS)

Receive a 10-15 minute standardized PNE session delivered by a licensed clinician trained in pain science

Complete the same assessments immediately after the intervention to identify any changes in memory, sensory awareness, and pain perception

This study aims to explore whether PNE can positively impact cognitive and sensory functions affected by chronic pain, beyond its already-established effects on movement and pain intensity.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age 18 and above

Chronic pain > 1 year

Provide written consent

Proficient in reading and understanding English

Disqualifiers

Not willing to participate in the study

Have received PNE as a treatment before

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
Behavioral
A 10-15 minute individualized educational session focusing on the neuroscience of pain. The session aims to reconceptualize the patient's understanding of their chronic pain by explaining the underlying biological, cognitive, and emotional mechanisms involved. Clinicians use a standardized checklist of metaphors and teaching tools tailored to the patient's clinical presentation.

Treatment groups

50 Participants

are divided into 1 treatment group

Group A: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) InterventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Memory Function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment - MoCA)

Description: Change in MoCA score to assess improvement or decline in cognitive function, particularly memory, associated with chronic pain. The MoCA is scored out of 30; a change of 2 points or more is considered clinically meaningful.

Time frame

At baseline (prior to the pain neuroscience education session) and immediately after completion of the treatment session

Sensory Awareness (Body Chart Pain Area - Grid Overlay Count)

Change in the number of grid blocks marked on the body pain chart to quantify alteration in perceived pain area, reflecting somatosensory representation changes.

Time frame

At baseline (prior to the pain neuroscience education session) and immediately after completion of the treatment session

Secondary outcomes

Self-Reported Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS)

Change in pain intensity reported by the patient on an 11-point scale (0-10). The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is 1.7 points.

Time frame

At baseline (prior to the pain neuroscience education session) and immediately after completion of the treatment session

Pain Catastrophization (Pain Catastrophization Scale - PCS)

Change in PCS scores assessing catastrophic thinking related to pain on a 13-item, 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater catastrophizing.

Time frame

At baseline (prior to the pain neuroscience education session) and immediately after completion of the treatment session

Other outcomes

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Age, gender, ethnicity, pain location, pain duration, family history of pain, presence of memory loss, and spreading of pain since onset.

Time frame

Baseline, pre-intervention

Clinician Checklist

Clinician-reported pain phenotype, diagnosis, metaphors used during PNE, and rating of therapeutic alliance to explore potential influences on intervention effectiveness

Time frame

Immediately after intervention

Locations

This trial has no locations.

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Evidence In Motion

Lead sponsor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Collaborator

Southwest Baptist University

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: