Can we see how pain killers work using brain imaging? Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
INVESTIGATING CHANGES IN THE BRAIN REPRESENTATION OF POST SURGICAL PAIN FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF PARACETAMOL USING FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING.
IRAS ID
136631
Contact name
Tara Renton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Research summary
We are running this study to try to understand how the body represents pain experienced after removal of the third molar teeth (or wisdom teeth). This study will use a brain imaging technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to look at the effects of pain on the blood flow to different areas of the brain when the patient is pain free and in pain, and the changes in these effects when the patient receives paracetamol. This will help us to develop new techniques for assessing pain and may help with the development of new pain killing medications. The participants in this study will be recruited from patients at Kings College Hospital Dental clinics who require removal of both of their lower wisdom teeth, but who are otherwise fit and healthy. They must be right handed male patients that are suitable to undergo MRI scanning. The study has five visits which will be carried out at the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences (CNS), which is located opposite the dental clinic. The first will be a screening visit. The other visits will involve patients undergoing a MRI scanning session during which they will be given paracetamol or placebo (dummy drug) into their vein and asked to rate how much pain they have. Two of these four visits will be conducted on days when they have no pain, and the other 2 will be conducted after they have had one of the their wisdom teeth removed and the local anaesthetic has worn off. As neither the participant nor the investigator will know which treatment they have received(painkiller or placebo) all participants will receive a second infusion after the scanning session. This contains the treatment that they didn’t get during the scan and will ensure the participant receives painkilling medication before they leave.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1703
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion