A unique electroencephalographic signature for pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory study to identify a unique electroencephalographic signature for musculoskeletal pain secondary to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
IRAS ID
161028
Contact name
Anthony Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
The majority of patients newly referred to a rheumatologist have chronic musculoskeletal pain as their primary complaint. At presentation, many of these patients will have developed pain related disability, which is associated with increased costs to the individual and health care systems. This is often resistant to traditional drug-based therapies.
Research suggests that chronic pain may be identified as dysfunctional changes in brain activity that are reflected in electroencephalography - this involves using a "cap" to measures electrical activity in the brain generated by nerves, and displays this as waves. Using this, previous researchers have identified specific patterns that are present when a person is experiencing pain in neuerological disease. However, there remains little information regarding the identification of such patterns in chronic musculoskeletal disease.
Once identified, such a marker could be used in conjunction with 'biofeedback'. This process enables patients to gain control of the dysfunctional brain activity that causes pain.
The purpose of this study is to see whether it is possible to identify a unique pattern of brain activity (detected by electroencephalography) for pain due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1420
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion