Brain morphological alternation in chronic pain patients with neuropathic characteristics.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462424
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Anesthesiology
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Ogino Yuichi 群馬大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (20420094)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 脳 / 麻酔 / 痛み / 感情 / MRI

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research is to investigate the mechanisms of chronic pain development by examining the above-mentioned relationships by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in patients with chronic pain. First, we assessed neuropathic characteristics using the painDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) in 12 chronic pain patients. Second, to assess the gray matter volume changes by VBM, we conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. We applied multiple regression analysis of these two assessment methods. There were significant positive correlations between PD-Q scores and the gray matter volume in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex and, right posterior cingulate cortex, and right posterior insula. Our findings suggest that neuropathic characteristics strongly affect the brain regions related to perception and modulation of pain in patients with chronic pain and therefore contribute to the severity of chronic pain.

Free Research Field

脳科学