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IntelligenceNCT02179450

Cognitive Function and Emotional Possessing in Bilateral Facial Palsy

An observational study of Intelligence and Emotion, run by Kirsten Elwischger, MD at 1 site in Austria.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Based on recent findings that botulinum toxin injections in the cranial muscles might reduce emotional processing (Havas 2011), an increasing number of popular newspaper tabloids are suggesting a negative effect on cognition. The underlying research articles address the "facial feedback hypothesis". Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Intelligence, Emotion
How many people
84 participants
Where
1 siteAustria
Study dates
Aug 2012to Dec 2013
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Two patient groups with bilateral facial palsy, 31 patients each (group A: BEB, , group C: BF), recruited from the Botulinum toxin outpatient's clinic and general outpatient's clinic of the Medical University of Vienna. Two control groups, 31 patients with CD, recruited from the Botulinum toxin outpatient's clinic of the Medical University of Vienna, and and 31 age-and education-matched HC, will perform neuropsychological testing of approximately 60 minutes duration at time of prominent facial palsy (baseline) and at remission (visit 1). HC age and education matched, will be tested twice. A total of 124 persons will be tested. All participants will sign an informed consent form. Group A: 31 BEB Group B: 31 CD Group C: 31 BF Group D: 31 HC

Who may be able to join

  • Patients:
  • willing to participate in this pilot trial
  • bilateral facial palsy
  • age 18-80 years
  • Control:
  • willing to participate in this pilot trial
Show all 10Show fewer
  • age,
  • gender and
  • education (duration of school attendance) matched
  • and/or cervical dystonia

Who cannot join

  • neurological or psychiatric comorbidity
  • psychotropic drugs

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Austria1 site
  • Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna

    Vienna, State of Vienna, 1090

Other trials in Austria

About this study

Official title: Pilot Study Assessing Cognitive Function and Emotional Possessing in Patients With Bilateral Facial Palsy

Based on recent findings that botulinum toxin injections in the cranial muscles might reduce emotional processing (Havas 2011), an increasing number of popular newspaper tabloids are suggesting a negative effect on cognition. The underlying research articles address the "facial feedback hypothesis". The hypothesis indicates that expressive behaviour, including facial mimic expressions influences the subject's brain via feedback. (Alam 2008) Other systemic neurological diseases, e.g of inflammatory origin, may lead to temporary bilateral facial nerve palsy (BF). During recovery process, the palsy usually remits completely.

The effect of bilateral facial muscle palsy on cognition and emotional possessing has never been evaluated.

Read more

The results of this pilot study might provide new information about the effect bilateral facial palsy on emotional processing and cognition and the facial feedback hypothesis.

The aim of this controlled pilot study is to assess cognitive function and emotional processing in patients with bilateral facial palsy. In addition, differences in cognitive function and emotional processing in patients with different manifestations of dystonia should be evaluated.

According to the facial feedback theory, paralysed mimic muscles might alter emotional processing. Therefore, investigators compare patients with bilateral facial muscle palsy and healthy controls. Investigators expect no influence of facial muscle palsy on cognitive functions in any of the tested groups; the investigators expect a mild impairment of emotional processing only in the patients group with bilateral facial muscle palsy (BEB and BF). In addition, the investigators expect no difference in emotional processing in patients with different manifestations of dystonia (BEB and CD) at remission. There might be a slight difference of emotional processing in patients with different manifestations of dystonia (BEB and CD) at time of prominent facial palsy.

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT02179450
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
BlepharospasmPatients suffering from Blepharospasm
Cervical DystoniaPatients suffering from cervical dystonia
Bilateral facial palsyPatients suffering from bilateral facial palsy of inflammatory origin
Healthy ControlControl subjects

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. I-S-T-2000R- (intelligence-structure-test 2000R)

    Test to evaluate Intelligence

    • Subtest "Matrixes"
    • Subtest "Analogies"

    Measured: up to four weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Beck's depression-inventory-II

    Evaluation of depression (BDI-II; Hautzinger et al., 2009)

    Measured: up to four weeks

  2. Apathy Evaluation Scale

    Evaluation of apathy (AES; Luecken et al., 2006)

    Measured: up to four weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Jul 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startAug 2012
  3. Primary completionMay 2013
  4. Study completionDec 2013

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
84 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02179450
Sponsor's protocol ID
Cognition_Facial palsy
Status last verified
Jun 2014
First submitted
31 Dec 2012
Last updated
1 Jul 2014
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Havas DA, Glenberg AM, Gutowski KA, Lucarelli MJ, Davidson RJ. Cosmetic use of botulinum toxin-a affects processing of emotional language. Psychol Sci. 2010 Jul;21(7):895-900. doi: 10.1177/0956797610374742. Epub 2010 Jun 14.

    PubMed 20548056
  • Alam M, Barrett KC, Hodapp RM, Arndt KA. Botulinum toxin and the facial feedback hypothesis: can looking better make you feel happier? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Jun;58(6):1061-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.10.649.

    PubMed 18485989
  • Hennenlotter A, Dresel C, Castrop F, Ceballos-Baumann AO, Wohlschlager AM, Haslinger B. The link between facial feedback and neural activity within central circuitries of emotion--new insights from botulinum toxin-induced denervation of frown muscles. Cereb Cortex. 2009 Mar;19(3):537-42. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhn104. Epub 2008 Jun 17.

    PubMed 18562330
  • Platho-Elwischger K, Schmoeger M, Willinger U, Abdel-Aziz C, Algner J, Pretscherer S, Auff E, Kranz G, Turnbull O, Sycha T. Cognitive Performance After Facial Botulinum Toxin Treatment in a Cohort of Neurologic Patients: An Exploratory Study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Mar;103(3):402-408. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.08.007. Epub 2021 Sep 5.

    PubMed 34496270

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Intelligence and Emotion, run by Kirsten Elwischger, MD at 1 site in Austria.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jul 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Austria. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

I-S-T-2000R- (intelligence-structure-test 2000R) (time frame: up to four weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02179450, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jul 2014.

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