Chronic Low-back PainNCT04085406
DBS of the SCC for the Treatment of Medically Refractory CLBP
A study testing Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate Cortex in people with Chronic Low-back Pain, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the subgenual cingulate cortex for the treatment of chronic medically-refractory low back pain using a randomized double-blind crossover design. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Low-back Pain
- What is being tested?
- Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate Cortex
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 16 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 2021to 30 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 40 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) as defined by persistent low back pain despite prior surgical interventions.
- Self-reported average back pain intensity of greater than 8 out of 10 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) documented over greater than 2 years.
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief from a trial of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or less than 50% pain relief after 3 months of SCS therapy or patient refuses/rejects SCS trial
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief in response to at least 4 weeks of physical therapy.
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief in response to at least 2 percutaneous spinal pain procedures.
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief in response to 3 months of opioid therapy (at least 20 MEQ/day) or inability to increase or tolerate opioid therapy due to dose-limiting side effects).
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- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief in response to a 3-month trial of at least one other class of pain medication in addition to opioid therapy or inability to tolerate increasing doses of non-opioid pain medications due to dose-limiting side effects.
- Lack of a surgically correctible etiology for the pain as determined by 2 independent neurosurgeons
- Age greater than 40 years of age.
- Ability to give informed consent in accordance with institutional policies and participate in the 1.5-year follow-up, involving assessments and stimulator adjustments.
- Willingness to share unexpected neurological or psychiatric symptoms with study clinicians.
Who cannot join
- Significant neurocognitive impairment (MoCA < 26).
- Age > 75 years.
- History of implant-related infection.
- History of bleeding disorder or immune-compromise.
- Psychiatric comorbidity other than depression or generalized anxiety disorder, as determined by MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview.
- Patients with neurological diagnoses that may reduce the response to or increase the risk of DBS including neurodegenerative conditions, severe movement disorders, demyelinating disorders, syringomyelia, epilepsy or history of seizures, history of CNS tumors (spinal and/or cranial), history of serious head injury with loss of consciousness, history of stroke, surgically reversible peripheral pain syndromes including surgically correctable radiculopathy, and severe peripheral neuropathy.
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- Patients who have undergone spine surgery within the previous 3 months.
- Major medical co-morbidities increasing the risk of surgery including uncontrolled hypertension, severe diabetes, major organ system failure, history of hemorrhagic stroke, need for chronic anticoagulation, active infection, immunocompromised state or malignancy with < 5 years life expectancy.
- Individuals with a currently implanted SCS device.
- Individuals with a life expectancy less than 1 year due to any cause.
- Individuals involved in an injury claim under current litigation.
- Individuals with a pending or approved worker's compensation claim.
- Patient living greater than 100 miles from UCLA.
- Suicide attempt in the last two years and/or presence of a suicide plan (an answer of Yes to Question C4 in Section C- Suicidality of MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview).
- Alcohol or illicit substance use disorder (other than nicotine) within the last 6 months, unstable remission of substance abuse, or chart evidence that co-morbid substance use disorder could account for lack of treatment response.
- Uncontrolled medical condition including cardiovascular problems and diabetes.
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Use of warfarin or other blood thinners.
- Significant structural abnormality on preoperative brain MRI.
- Contraindications to MRIs or the need for recurrent body MRIs.
- Presence of cardiac pacemakers/defibrillators, implanted medication pumps, intra-cardiac lines, any intracranial implants (e.g., aneurysm clip, shunt, cochlear implant, electrodes) or other implanted stimulators.
- History of prior cranial neurosurgery.
- Patients unable to discontinue any existing therapeutic diathermy.
- Individuals who are concomitantly participating in another clinical study.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, 75390
Nader Pouratian, MD PhD, Nader.Pouratian@UTSouthwestern.edu
- Recruiting
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, 90067
Ausaf Bari, 310-825-4321, Barilab@mednet.ucla.edu
About this study
Official title: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex for the Treatment of Medically Refractory Chronic Low Back Pain
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the subgenual cingulate cortex for the treatment of chronic medically-refractory low back pain using a randomized double-blind crossover design.
Read the detailed description
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most ubiquitous and intractable problems in medicine and a significant source of patient suffering and disability, leading to opioid misuse and addiction. Previous neuromodulatory therapies for CLBP have focused primarily on spinal etiologies and intra-spinal mechanisms of pain transmission. However, existing pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapies have not been successful in treating CLBP. This project aims to address critical gaps and the unmet therapeutic needs of CLBP patients by using the Abbott Infinity DBS System; a next generation DBS device with directional steering capability implanted bilaterally in the subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC) to engage networks known to mediate the affective component of CLBP. The objective is to (1) Assess the preliminary efficacy of DBS of the SCC in the treatment of medically refractory CLBP; (2) Demonstrate the safety and feasibility of SCC DBS for CLBP; and (3) Develop diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based blueprints of response to SCC DBS for CLBP. The overall impact of this proof-of-concept pilot trial includes validation of the concept that suffering from CLBP results from pathological activity in affective brain networks, that these networks can be accurately engaged using a next-generation directional DBS device in a safe and feasible manner, and the discover of neuroimaging biomarkers of response to SCC DBS for CLBP.
- Conditions
- Chronic Low-back Pain
- Being tested
- Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate Cortex
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate CortexDevice
The Abbott Infinity DBS device will be surgically implanted in the bilateral subgenual cingulate cortex to provide electrical stimulation to this region.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active Stimulation | Experimental | Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: Active Treatment (active stimulation programmed to the settings found to be optimal during the initial open-label period) and a Control Group (sham stimulation - IPG is set to ON but the voltage is set to 0V). Receives: Device: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate Cortex |
| Sham Stimulation | Sham comparator | Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: Active Treatment (active stimulation programmed to the settings found to be optimal during the initial open-label phase) and a Control Group (sham stimulation - IPG is set to ON but the voltage is set to 0V). Receives: Device: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate Cortex |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change of at least 50% in pain scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) compared to baseline.
The visual analog scale for pain is a continuous horizontal scale of length 100 mm with the extremes of pain expressed on either end (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain). The change on the VAS from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in at least 50% in pain scores on the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale -- Short Form 20 (PASS SF-20) compared to baseline.
The PASS SF-20 score is a composite 20 item score which focuses on fear and anxiety of pain. It includes 4 sections on aspects of pain including cognitive, escape/avoidance, fear and physiological anxiety. All items are rated on a scale from 0 (never) to 5 (always), where higher values indicate worse outcome. Summary scores are calculated by summing assigned items and then by summing the subscales to derive an overall score for a possible total of 100. The change on the PASS from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
At least 10% of study participants to experience one or more significant adverse events (SAEs)
The percentage of subjects with one or more SAEs during the entire study period will be calculated.
Measured: 18 months - the end of the study
Secondary outcomes (17)
Change in dose and/or frequency of opioid analgesic medication use in oral morphine equivalents.
The effect of therapy on reduction in opioid medication intake will be compared to baseline. Opioid use will be converted into morphine milligram equivalents (MME). The MME taken in the preceding month will be calculated using chart review and expressed in MMEs/ day and total MMEs/month expressed as a percentage of the baseline usage calculated as the average MMEs/day and MMEs/month over the previous six months before the start of enrollment. The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
50% improvement in McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) is a well validated and reliable measure of pain. The MPQ captures pain intensity on a 0 to 10 scale where 0 is no pain and 10 is pain as bad as it can be. It is a well validated measure of sensory, affective, and evaluative pain.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in Short-Form 36 (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire score.
Short Form 36. The SF-36 Health Survey is a 36-item, patient-reported survey of patient health. The SF-36 is a measure of health status and is commonly used in health economics as a variable in the quality-adjusted life year calculation to determine the cost-effectiveness of a health treatment. The SF-36 consists of eight scaled scores, which are the weighted sums of the questions in their section. Each scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale on the assumption that each question carries equal weight. The lower the score the more disability. The higher the score the less disability i.e., a score of zero is equivalent to maximum disability and a score of 100 is equivalent to no disability.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in EuroQol 5-Domain (EQ-5D) Score
The EQ-5D is a 5-item patient self-reported survey of health-related quality of life questions consisting of a descriptive part and an evaluation part. The descriptive part includes 5 categories: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/ discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each category can be rated as a number 1, 2, or 3, which indicates having no problems for 1, having some problems for 2, and having extreme problems for 3 - for a total of the 5 categories. In the evaluation part, subjects rate their overall health on a visual analog scale (0 to100, where 100 is most healthy). The change in the EQ-5D score from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score (MoCA)
The MoCA is a 30-point cognitive test which measures memory, visuospatial ability, executive function, attention, language and orientation to time and place. The MoCA score will be used to assess potential adverse effects of stimulation on cognition. Time to administer the MoCA is approximately 10 minutes. The total possible score is 30 points; a score of 26 or above is considered normal. The change in the MoCA score from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
The HAM-D is a 17-item rating scale for depression. It is the most frequently used depression rating scale used in controlled clinical trials. It provides ratings on current DSM-IV symptoms of depression, with the exceptions of hypersomnia, increased appetite, and concentration/indecision. The HAMD-17 was designed to be administered by a trained clinician using a semi-structured clinical interview. The 17- items are rated on either a 5-point (0-4) or a 3-point (0-2) scale.The change in the HAM-D score from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
The ODI is a self-assessment of disability secondary to low back pain. The ODI consists of ten topics concerning intensity of pain, lifting, ability to care for oneself, ability to walk, ability to sit, sexual function, ability to stand, social life, sleep quality, and ability to travel. Each item is rated from 0 to 5, the item scores summed and then multiplied by 2 to arrive at a combined final index score ranging from 0 (no disability) to 100 (highest disability),. The change in the ODI from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Pain Interference Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
NIH Toolbox Pain Interference CAT asks participants about how their experience of pain interfered with or affected their enjoyment of various daily activities in the past seven days. The CAT scale is computer-adaptive and has a minimum of four questions and a maximum of 12 questions. The questions ask for a response on a 5-point scale: "Not at all" to "Very much"; or rated: "Never" "Always". The test is self-assessed using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The survey is scored using IRT (item response theory) methods. An IRT theta score is generated for each participant, and while no Toolbox norms are available for this measure, the IRT scores are converted to general T-scores based off PROMIS (pain intensity scale). Higher theta and T-Scores represent greater participant report of pain interference. The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the PROMIS Pain Intensity Scale 3a
PROMIS Pain Intensity Scale 3a fixed form test consists 3 questions about the subject's worst pain and average pain over the past 7 days and current pain level. All items are self-reported on a scale of 1 (no pain) -5 (maximal pain). The test is self-assessed using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the PROMIS Pain Behavior CAT
The PROMIS Pain Behavior CAT measures pain related behavioral changes. All items are self-reported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. With CAT, participant responses guide the system's choice of subsequent items from the full item bank (20 items in total). The score metric is Item Response Theory (IRT), a family of statistical models that link individual questions to a presumed underlying trait or concept of pain behavior represented by all items in the item bank. The final score is represented by the T-score, a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Positive Affect CAT
The NIH Toolbox Positive Affect CAT measures positive affect. All items are self-reported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The score metric is Item Response Theory (IRT). The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Sadness CAT
The NIH Toolbox Sadness CAT measures the subject's level of sadness. All items are self-reported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The score metric is Item Response Theory (IRT). The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox General Life Satisfaction CAT
The NIH Toolbox General Life Satisfaction CAT measures life satisfaction. All items are self-reported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study.The score metric is Item Response Theory (IRT). The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Perceived Stress Fixed Form (FF)
The NIH Toolbox Perceived Stress FF is a 10-item measure of perceived stress. All items are selfreported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The score metric is Item Response Theory (IRT). The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the PROMIS Prescription Pain Medication Misuse CAT
The PROMIS Prescription Pain Medication Misuse CAT is a 17-item measure of misuse and/or abuse of prescription pain medications. All items are self-reported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The score metric is Item Response Theory (IRT). The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Locomotion
The NIH Toolbox Locomotion measures locomotion. Participants walk a short distance at their usual pace, completing one practice and two-timed trials. Scores are recorded as time in seconds required to walk 4 meters on each of two trials, with the better trial used for scoring. An administrator will use the NIH toolbox app to assist in conducting this assessment. The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Pain Intensity Survey
NIH Toolbox Pain Intensity Survey consists of one self-report item asking about the participant's level of pain in the past seven days. Participants are asked to rate their pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). All items are selfreported on using the NIH Toolbox app which will be installed on an iPad provided to the subject for the duration of the study. The change from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Measured: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Sep 2019
- Study start1 May 2021
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic Low-back PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ausaf A. Bari, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
- Investigators
- Ausaf Bari, MD PhD, Principal investigator, UCLA Department of Neurosurgery
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04085406
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UH3NS113661
- Other IDs
- UH3NS113661
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 30 Aug 2019
- Last updated
- 10 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex for the Treatment of Medically Refractory Chronic Low Back Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04085406
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UH3NS113661
- Conditions
- Chronic Low-back Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Study start
- 1 May 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the subgenual cingulate cortex for the treatment of chronic medically-refractory low back pain using a randomized double-blind crossover design.
Detailed description
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most ubiquitous and intractable problems in medicine and a significant source of patient suffering and disability, leading to opioid misuse and addiction. Previous neuromodulatory therapies for CLBP have focused primarily on spinal etiologies and intra-spinal mechanisms of pain transmission. However, existing pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapies have not been successful in treating CLBP. This project aims to address critical gaps and the unmet therapeutic needs of CLBP patients by using the Abbott Infinity DBS System; a next generation DBS device with directional steering capability implanted bilaterally in the subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC) to engage networks known to mediate the affective component of CLBP. The objective is to (1) Assess the preliminary efficacy of DBS of the SCC in the treatment of medically refractory CLBP; (2) Demonstrate the safety and feasibility of SCC DBS for CLBP; and (3) Develop diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based blueprints of response to SCC DBS for CLBP. The overall impact of this proof-of-concept pilot trial includes validation of the concept that suffering from CLBP results from pathological activity in affective brain networks, that these networks can be accurately engaged using a next-generation directional DBS device in a safe and feasible manner, and the discover of neuroimaging biomarkers of response to SCC DBS for CLBP.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active Stimulation | Experimental | Device: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate CortexPatients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: Active Treatment (active stimulation programmed to the settings found to be optimal during the initial open-label period) and a Control Group (sham stimulation - IPG is set to ON but the voltage is set to 0V). |
| Sham Stimulation | Sham comparator | Device: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate CortexPatients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: Active Treatment (active stimulation programmed to the settings found to be optimal during the initial open-label phase) and a Control Group (sham stimulation - IPG is set to ON but the voltage is set to 0V). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) as defined by persistent low back pain despite prior surgical interventions.
- Self-reported average back pain intensity of greater than 8 out of 10 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) documented over greater than 2 years.
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief from a trial of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or less than 50% pain relief after 3 months of SCS therapy or patient refuses/rejects SCS trial
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief in response to at least 4 weeks of physical therapy.
- Failure to achieve at least 50% pain relief in response to at least 2 percutaneous spinal pain procedures.
Key exclusion criteria (24 listed)
- Significant neurocognitive impairment (MoCA < 26).
- Age > 75 years.
- History of implant-related infection.
- History of bleeding disorder or immune-compromise.
- Psychiatric comorbidity other than depression or generalized anxiety disorder, as determined by MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate CortexThe Abbott Infinity DBS device will be surgically implanted in the bilateral subgenual cingulate cortex to provide electrical stimulation to this region. | Device | Active Stimulation, Sham Stimulation |
Primary outcome
Change of at least 50% in pain scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) compared to baseline.
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
The visual analog scale for pain is a continuous horizontal scale of length 100 mm with the extremes of pain expressed on either end (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain). The change on the VAS from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
Change in at least 50% in pain scores on the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale -- Short Form 20 (PASS SF-20) compared to baseline.
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
The PASS SF-20 score is a composite 20 item score which focuses on fear and anxiety of pain. It includes 4 sections on aspects of pain including cognitive, escape/avoidance, fear and physiological anxiety. All items are rated on a scale from 0 (never) to 5 (always), where higher values indicate worse outcome. Summary scores are calculated by summing assigned items and then by summing the subscales to derive an overall score for a possible total of 100. The change on the PASS from active stimulation compared to baseline and sham stimulation will be calculated.
At least 10% of study participants to experience one or more significant adverse events (SAEs)
Time frame: 18 months - the end of the study
The percentage of subjects with one or more SAEs during the entire study period will be calculated.
17 secondary outcomes
Change in dose and/or frequency of opioid analgesic medication use in oral morphine equivalents.
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
50% improvement in McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in Short-Form 36 (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire score.
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in EuroQol 5-Domain (EQ-5D) Score
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score (MoCA)
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Pain Interference Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the PROMIS Pain Intensity Scale 3a
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the PROMIS Pain Behavior CAT
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Positive Affect CAT
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Sadness CAT
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox General Life Satisfaction CAT
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Perceived Stress Fixed Form (FF)
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the PROMIS Prescription Pain Medication Misuse CAT
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Toolbox Locomotion
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Change in the NIH Pain Intensity Survey
Time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Ausaf Bari, MD PhD principal investigator
UCLA Department of Neurosurgery
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenus Cingulate Cortex in people with Chronic Low-back Pain, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 2 sites in United States.
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 11 inclusion and 24 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Meskereen Tolossa (310-206-9187, MTolossa@mednet.ucla.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change of at least 50% in pain scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) compared to baseline. (time frame: 12 months - the end of the crossover period). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 10 Jul 2025.