A study investigating the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of Brainwave training (Neurofeedback) for people suffering from neuropathic symptoms as part of their musculoskeletal pain condition.
What is the study about?
One in five New Zealand adults suffers chronic pain, and a proportion of them experience long-lasting neuropathic-like symptoms. Despite the availability of analgesics and other pain therapies, no treatment has been discovered to benefit most individuals, and most of the existing treatments come with notable side effects. Brainwave training/Neurofeedback is a non-invasive therapy that teaches patients to have direct control over their brain activity, which helps them reduce their pain experience. Our research programme aims to investigate the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of a novel neurofeedback therapy in a group of people with chronic musculoskeletal conditions with neuropathic pain-like qualities.
Am I eligible for the study?
You are eligible to participate if:
- Aged between 35 to 75 years old
- Suffering from chronic joint pain for more than 3 months
- Have neuropathic symptoms (burning, numbness, and ‘pins and needles’) as part of the joint pain
You will be screened by a member of the research team either by phone or via a secure online survey to determine your eligibility to participate in this study.
What will I be asked to do?
- Attend a 90-minute baseline session
- To complete a series of questionnaires enquiring about your background, joint pain, sleep, physical activity, and psychological status
- Your brain activity will be recorded using an electrode cap
- Respond to simple sensory tests (pressure and touch) and perform functional tasks
- Participate in neurofeedback training: 12 one-hour sessions (three per week) over four weeks.
- Complete a 90-minute post-training session, repeating all baseline assessments.
Please read the information sheet for further details of the study procedure
To recognise the actual or reasonable costs involved with participating in this project, all participants will be reimbursed a $200 gift voucher for completing the survey and for attending the testing and training sessions.
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committees. Reference: 2023EXP19190.
I am eligible and interested; what do I do next?
Please follow this link to the preliminary screening form to check your eligibility and provide us with your contact details: https://redcap.link/wsuzy83o
You also have the option to be screened by the researcher by phone or email to determine your eligibility to participate in the study.
Tel +64 3 471 6010
Email brainpainresearch.anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Do you have any further queries?
Please contact:
Dr Jerin Mathew
Email jerin.mathew@otago.ac.nz
Study location
Department of Anatomy
School of Biomedical Sciences
Lindo Ferguson Building
270 Great King St
University of Otago, Dunedin