Sensory and neural correlates of pain in irritable bowel syndrome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A case-controlled study to determine the sensory and functional neural correlates of chronic pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
IRAS ID
181321
Contact name
Sarah Waldman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to characterise the sensory and neural features that are associated with chronic pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a functional bowel disorder characterised by abdominal pain associated with a change in defaecation. Its cause is unclear but it is very common, affecting around 11% of the world's population. In many of these people, IBS leads to a reduced quality of life, and also accounts for a large amount of health spending. Therefore, a better understanding of the reasons for chronic pain in IBS would be of huge benefit. There is evidence of altered sensory function in IBS, as well as altered brain structure, and differences in neural activation in response to evoked pain from painful stimuli. However, an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie ongoing, resting pain in this group is lacking.
In this study we aim to characterise in detail the sensory profiles of IBS sufferers, and to determine the brain mechanisms that underlie ongoing pain as well as evoked pain. This will be done through quantitative sensory testing and functional MRI scanning. Participants will also be asked to complete a questionnaire about factors that may influence pain perception. We will also collect a blood sample to look at pain-related polymorphisms.
We will be recruiting 25 IBS patients and 25 healthy volunteers, each of whom will complete 2 visits to the Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB) at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0587
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion