Clinical Trial

Session-Order Sensitivity of TS and OA in a Capsaicin Crossover Model

Study acronym: TS-OA-Cap
Completed
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Summary
Temporal summation (TS) and offset analgesia (OA) are widely used psychophysical endpoints in pain research that index different components of central nociceptive processing. While crossover designs are commonly used in experimental pain studies to reduce between-participant variability, the design-stability of these endpoints under repeated testing during experimental sensitisation is not well characterised. This study compared the design-stability of mechanical TS (Sumscore) and offset analgesia magnitude (OffA) in a two-period, vehicle-controlled crossover trial of capsaicin-evoked secondary hyperalgesia in healthy adults. The primary aim was methodological: to determine whether session-order effects differ between TS and OffA when these are used as outcome measures in two-period crossover designs of capsaicin-induced central sensitisation. Topical capsaicin was used as a reversible experimental intervention to create a controlled, transient state of secondary hyperalgesia rather than as a therapeutic intervention. The study informs endpoint selection in future quantitative sensory testing (QST) crossover trials.
Trial Details
NCT Number NCT07625475
Lead Sponsor University of Guelph
Conditions Hyperalgesia, Pain Perception, Central Nervous System Sensitization, Pain Threshold
Enrollment 16 participants
Start Date 2024-05-01
Primary Completion 2025-04-30 (estimated)
Study Completion 2025-04-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov 2026-06-04