Clinical trial with a CE-marked medical device. Use as indicated in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of neurofeedback therapy in managing musculoskeletal pain in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Clinical trial with a CE-marked medical device. Use as indicated in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and musculoskeletal pain, with the primary objective of evaluating the efficacy of neurofeedback therapy in managing musculoskeletal pain in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, psychological and microbiome characteristics will be analyzed in a cohort of adult patients with IBD and joint pain. Subjects will be randomly assigned to two groups in permuted blocks of eight, with a 1:1 ratio. The sequence, generated via a computer algorithm using SAS (Statistical Analysis System) software, will be hidden from investigators to avoid selection bias. The study will recruit 80 patients: 40 assigned to the clinical group, who will receive eight sessions of alpha/theta neurofeedback, and 40 to the control group, who will receive no psychological treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
80
Experimental psychotherapy treatment with 8 sessions of alpha/theta neurofeedback
Classical psychological treatment according to standards of care
Reduction in pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
The Visual Analog Scale for Pain ranges from 0 to 100 points, where: 0 = no pain 100 = worst imaginable pain Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity (worse outcome).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Disease activity will be assessed using standard disease activity indices according to clinical practice (e.g., validated indices specific for inflammatory bowel disease). Scale ranges and interpretation depend on the specific index used; higher scores indicate greater disease activity.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Pain intensity will also be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), ranging from 0 to 100 points: 0 = no pain 100 = worst imaginable pain Higher scores indicate worse pain.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Health-related quality of life and psychological distress
Health-related quality of life and psychological distress will be assessed using validated questionnaires. Each questionnaire will be reported separately with its defined score range and interpretation according to the respective instrument.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Gut microbiota composition and diversity
Gut microbiota composition and diversity will be assessed through stool sample analysis. Microbial diversity will be evaluated using ecological diversity metrics, including alpha-diversity and beta-diversity indices.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Maintenance of pain reduction measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
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To evaluate whether the reduction in perceived pain achieved at the end of treatment is maintained during follow-up. Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS). Range: 0-100 0 = no pain 100 = worst imaginable pain Higher scores indicate worse pain intensity. Pain will be assessed at: Baseline End of treatment (8 weeks) Follow-up (12 weeks after treatment completion)
Time frame: 20 weeks
Functional disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI)
Functional disability will be assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Range: 0-3 0 = no disability 3 = severe disability Higher scores indicate worse functional impairment. Assessments will be performed at: Baseline End of treatment (8 weeks) Follow-up (12 weeks after treatment completion)
Time frame: 20 weeks
Fatigue measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue Scale (FACIT-Fatigue)
Fatigue will be measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue Scale (FACIT-Fatigue). Range: 0-52 Higher scores indicate less fatigue (better outcome). Assessments will be performed at: Baseline End of treatment (8 weeks) Follow-up (12 weeks after treatment completion)
Time frame: 20 weeks
Neuropathic pain measured by the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS)
Neuropathic pain will be assessed using the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS). Total score range: 0-100 Higher scores indicate worse neuropathic pain. Assessments will be performed at: Baseline End of treatment (8 weeks) Follow-up (12 weeks after treatment completion)
Time frame: 20 weeks
Pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) between intervention and control groups
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS). Range: 0-100 0 = no pain 100 = worst imaginable pain Higher scores indicate worse pain intensity. Pain scores will be compared between the neurofeedback intervention group and the control group receiving no psychological intervention.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Functional disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) between intervention and control groups
Functional disability will be measured using the HAQ-DI. Range: 0-3 Higher scores indicate worse disability. Scores will be compared between the neurofeedback intervention group and the control group.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Fatigue measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue Scale (FACIT-Fatigue) between intervention and control groups
Fatigue will be assessed using the FACIT-Fatigue scale. Range: 0-52 Higher scores indicate less fatigue (better outcome). Scores will be compared between the neurofeedback intervention group and the control group.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Neuropathic pain measured by the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS) between intervention and control groups
Neuropathic pain will be assessed using the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS). Range: 0-100 Higher scores indicate worse neuropathic pain. Scores will be compared between the neurofeedback intervention group and the control group.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Assessment of Neurofeedback Learning Measured by EEG Theta/Alpha Ratio
Neurofeedback learning will be assessed by measuring changes in the electroencephalographic (EEG) theta/alpha power ratio. The theta/alpha ratio represents the relative spectral power between theta and alpha frequency bands derived from EEG recordings. Measure: Theta/Alpha Ratio derived from EEG recordings. This is a continuous variable representing the ratio between theta-band power and alpha-band power. The measure has no fixed theoretical upper limit. Changes in the ratio reflect modifications in the relative distribution of EEG spectral power between theta and alpha frequency bands. The theta/alpha ratio will be assessed at: Baseline End of treatment (8 weeks) Follow-up (12 weeks after treatment completion) Higher or lower values will be interpreted as changes in neurophysiological activity associated with the neurofeedback training.
Time frame: 20 weeks