Evaluation of Alexithymia in Chronic Pain Patients With Spinal Cord Stimulation

Sponsor
Marmara University
Study ID
NCT07696286
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Chronic Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Psychometric Questionnaires and Retrospective Data Collection — OTHER
    Participants are evaluated at a single time point using self-report questionnaires including the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33). Pain intensity (VAS/NRS) and clinical data are extracted retrospectively from medical records.

Study Details

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between alexithymia levels and clinical parameters, including pain intensity and quality of life, in chronic pain patients treated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Chronic neuropathic pain can lead to psychological distress and decreased quality of life. While SCS is an effective neuromodulation therapy for managing refractory pain, patient outcomes vary significantly, suggesting that biomedically similar patients experience different levels of relief due to psychosocial factors. Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing emotions, may significantly influence the individual pain experience and treatment outcomes. In this cross-sectional observational study, patients who underwent SCS implantation for clinical indications will be evaluated. Clinical data regarding pain history will be collected retrospectively from patient files, while psychosocial profiles will be assessed at a single time point using validated psychometric questionnaires. The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of psychosocial variables in neuromodulation outcomes, potentially aiding in improved patient selection and expectation management.

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 10, 2026
Start date
Jun 1, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
Dec 1, 2026
Completion
Jun 1, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
20 participants (estimated)

Arms

  • Arm: SCS Chronic Pain Patients
    Chronic pain patients aged 18 and older who have undergone permanent spinal cord stimulation (SCS) implantation due to clinical indications.

Primary Outcome Measure

Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) Score [ Time Frame: At a single time point (during the cross-sectional evaluation) ]

Related Studies