Neuroimaging of Pain: Changes in Regional Brain Functioning Associated With Amplified Pain and Intensive Treatment
Neuroimaging of Pain: Changes in Regional Brain Functioning Associated With Amplified Pain and Intensive Treatment
The proposed study will examine how intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT, specifically the Rehabilitation for Amplified Pain Syndrome, or RAPS, program at Children's Mercy Hospital) impacts neurofunctional mechanisms of emotional and physical pain processing in patients. There has been recent interest in characterizing the brain regions responsible for processing pain (Wager et al., 2013), but little research has included youth. A better understanding of the physiological mechanisms of pain can lead to better treatment outcomes.
Youth will be scanned before or during the first week of participation in the Rehabilitation for Amplified Pain Syndrome (RAPS) program, and a second time near or just after program completion (typically 3-5 weeks later). One functional MRI task will involve passive viewing of emotional and pain-related images including some that have been widely used in previous neuroimaging research (e.g., the International Affective Picture Set, Human Facial Expressions; alternating positive and negative affect/valence). The other functional MRI task, will involve systematic external application of somatosensory stimulation (pressure) to the hand in alternating blocks. The entire imaging procedure will take approximately an hour. MRI technicians and/or study staff will administer the scanning protocol. Study team will be responsible for the systematic external application of sensory input.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: