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Central Sensitization and Neuropathic Pain in Cervicogenic Headache

NCT07292181 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 72

Last updated 2025-12-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Cervicogenic headache is a type of secondary headache that originates from the structures of the neck and can spread toward the head and facial regions. It is often one-sided and may be triggered by neck movement or sustained posture. The underlying mechanisms are thought to include abnormal processing of pain signals in the cervical spine and brainstem.

This case-control study was designed to examine whether individuals with cervicogenic headache show higher levels of central nervous system hypersensitivity and nerve-related pain compared with healthy individuals. The study also aimed to identify how these pain mechanisms are related to sleep, mood, and functional capacity.

The research was conducted at the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology of Yozgat Bozok University. Adults between 18 and 65 years of age who met the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache were included. Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers without chronic pain or neurological disorders were recruited as the control group.

Participants completed face-to-face interviews that included sociodemographic questions and a series of validated assessment tools measuring pain characteristics, psychological state, sleep quality, and quality of life. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board, and all participants provided written informed consent prior to participation.

Conditions

  • Cervicogenic Headache
  • Central Sensitization
  • Neuropathic Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Clinical assessment with standardized questionnaires

Participants in both the patient group and the healthy control group underwent a structured clinical assessment using validated instruments. The evaluation included measures of central sensitization, neuropathic pain features, headache-related disability, cervical functional impairment, psychological distress, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. The instruments administered were the Central Sensitization Inventory, PainDETECT Questionnaire, Headache Impact Test, Neck Disability Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Jenkins Sleep Scale, and Short Form-36. No pharmacological or procedural intervention was applied as part of the study; the primary focus was on comparative assessment between groups.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Gulseren Demir Karakilic

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Gülseren Demir Karakılıç, Assistant Professor · Yozgat Bozok University

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-07-03
Primary Completion
2025-10-03
Completion
2025-10-03

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

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 NCT07292181 on ClinicalTrials.gov