tDCS for the Management of Chronic Visceral Pain in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Overview

This study is testing whether the addition of a noninvasive form of brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) when combined with meditation helps decrease the abdominal pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The device involved in this study, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is investigational. This means that the study device is still being tested in research studies and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration \[FDA\].

This is a double-blind, pilot study with the goal of testing the effects of tDCS coupled with meditation in the management of visceral pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis. We will enroll a total of 14 subjects with chronic pancreatitis. After enrollment, subjects will be randomized to active stimulation plus mediation (7 subjects) or sham stimulation plus meditation (7 subjects). Subjects will undergo 5 days of active tDCS stimulation plus meditation or sham tDCS plus meditation. Sessions will last approximately 30 min - 1 hour. EEG activity will be measured in the first, last and follow-up visits. After each stimulation session, we will assess for adverse effects using the tDCS adverse effects questionnaire. We will also have the subject fill out a pain/medication diary during the 5 days of treatment. All study procedures will be completed at BIDMC.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Conditions

Chronic Pancreatitis Pain

Interventions

tDCSDEVICE

MeditationBEHAVIORAL

Both Active and SHAM groups will receive Meditation.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Provide informed consent to participate in the study 2. 18 years old 3. If taking pain medications, stable doses are required for at least 1 month prior to initiation of the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of alcohol or substance abuse within the last 6 months as self-reported 2. Suffering from severe depression (with a score of \>30 in the Beck Depression Inventory) 3. Diagnosis of any neurological diseases (such as epilepsy) 4. Episodes of seizures within the last 6 months 5. Unexplained loss of consciousness 6. Use of carbamazepine or neuropsychotropic drugs 7. Have had no neurosurgery as self reported 8. Contraindications to tDCS 1. Metal in the head 2. Implanted brain medical devices 9. Pregnant at time of enrollment 10. Previous experience with meditation

Locations (1)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain

Assess the effects of 5 days of active vs sham tDCS stimulation plus meditation on chronic visceral pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis. We will determine the magnitude of pain reduction using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). We hypothesize that active tDCS plus meditation will have a greater decrease in VAS scores and BPI scores when compared to sham tDCS plus meditation in subjects with chronic pancreatitis

Time frame: Two weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Quality of Life

Assess the effects of 5 days of active vs sham tDCS stimulation plus meditation on life satisfaction in subjects with chronic pancreatitis. We will use the Quality of Life Scale (QoLS) to assess changes in life satisfaction after active tDCS plus meditation intervention. We hypothesize that active tDCS plus meditation will have a greater increase in the QoLS after the intervention when compared to sham tDCS plus mediation in subjects with chronic pancreatitis

Time frame: Two weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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