Graded Motor Imagery in Women Diagnosed With Genito-Pelvic Pain Penetration Disorder

University of Valencia96 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of a Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) programme in women diagnosed with Genito-Pelvic Pain Penetration (GPPD) Disorder. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a GMI programme reduce pain intensity levels in women diagnosed with GPPPD? Does a GMI programme have an effect on sexual function in women diagnosed with GPPPD? Participants will undergo a GMI programme and will be tested prior to and after the intervention to assess if the programme has a significant effect with regards to pain intensity and other pain-related outcome

Graded Motor Imagery has been extensively used in several populations suffering pain-related disorders. It triggers cortical stimulation gradually in order to have an effect on the alterations that might have occured due to pain Women suffering from Genito-Pelvic Pain Penetration Disorder deal with persistent pelvic pain that is no longer responding to a noxious stimulus, therefore this clinical presentation could have several cortical alterations implicated. The main goal of this study is to assess if a Graded Motor Imagery programme is able to reduce pain intensity and improve sexual function in women diagnosed with Genito-Pelvic Pain Penetration Disorder.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder

Interventions

Graded Motor ImageryOTHER

Graded Motor Imagery programme consisting on three stages that will be gradually implemented. (i) Implicit Motor Imagery, that will be implemented through a developed app that resembles the Recognize app but adapted for Pelvic Floor disorders, (ii) Explicit Motor Imagery, applied through several sessions of motor imagery assisted through audio recordings and (iii) Graded Exposure, also guided through audio recordings and several practical tasks to perform.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain Intensity

Pain intensity assessed through a Visual Analogue Scale, with a mininum value of 0 and a maximum value of 10, higher scores mean a worse outcome

Time frame: 6 weeks

Sexual function

Sexual function assessed through a short version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Minimum score is 6, maximum score is 30. Higher scores mean better outcome.