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Examining Brain Changes Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in Amputees With Phantom Limb Pain Following Mirror Therapy

NCT00662415 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 42

Last updated 2008-04-21

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Almost everyone who has a traumatic limb amputated will experience a phantom limb - the vivid impression that the limb not only still is present, but also in many cases, painful. Preliminary data from study WRAMC WU# 05-71034, "Pilot study to assess the efficacy of mirror-box and mental visualization treatments on phantom limb pain" demonstrates that 4 weeks of mirror therapy is effective for treating phantom limb pain (PLP) and suggests that vision is a key component modulating PLP and may be the explanation for the efficacy of mirror therapy, as subjects view the reflected image of their intact limb while attempting to move the amputated, or phantom, limb. We propose conducting a study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify brain regions critical for the mirror effect and to study the relationship of visual activation to the sensation of phantom pain. Subjects will have an fMRI scan prior to starting therapy, 2 weeks after starting mirror therapy and again after 4 weeks of mirror therapy. Data will be gathered daily on the number of episodes of phantom limb pain, the average length of episodes, and the average intensity of pain.

Conditions

  • Phantom Limb Pain

Interventions

DEVICE

mirror-box treatment

15 minutes daily for 4 weeks

BEHAVIORAL

observation

observation

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

    collaborator NIH

  • United States Department of Defense

    lead FED

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2008-02-29
Primary Completion
2010-02-28
Completion
2010-02-28

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00662415 on ClinicalTrials.gov