Chronic PainNCT07551687
Pleasant Touch Perception in Persistent Pain.
An observational study of Chronic Pain and Persistent Pain, run by Göteborg University at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
The goal of this observational study is to learn how individuals with chronic pain experience pleasant touch and how often they are exposed to such touch in their daily lives. The study also aims to examine how these experiences relate to pain sensitivity and body awareness. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain, Persistent Pain
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- 26 Apr 2026to 1 Feb 2030
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adults with persistent pain referred to Smärtteam Västra Götaland for clinical assessment and management.
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 years and older
- Referred to and accepted for assessment at Pain Clinic (Smärtteam) Västra Götaland due to persistent pain (duration ≥ 3 months)
- Able to read and complete self-report questionnaires in Swedish
Who cannot join
- Inability to read or complete self-report questionnaires in Swedish
- Need for interpreter support
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Being Touched in Persistent Pain: Mapping the Association Between Pleasant Touch and Central Sensitization in Patients With Persistent Pain.
The goal of this observational study is to learn how individuals with chronic pain experience pleasant touch and how often they are exposed to such touch in their daily lives. The study also aims to examine how these experiences relate to pain sensitivity and body awareness. The main questions it aims to answer are:
How is the perception of pleasant touch associated with central sensitization and interoceptive awareness in individuals with chronic pain?
Read more
Does the perception of pleasant touch differ between individuals with different dominant pain mechanisms (nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic)?
Participants referred to a specialist Pain Clinic in Västra Götaland as part of their regular care will be invited to take part. Those who consent will complete online questionnaires assessing pain, experience and exposure to touch, interoceptive awareness, and central sensitization. Clinical data such as pain diagnosis and medical history will also be collected.
Read the detailed description
This observational study aims to investigate how individuals with chronic pain experience pleasant touch and how these experiences relate to central sensitization, interoceptive awareness, and different pain mechanisms.
Participants referred to the Pain Clinic in Västra Götaland as part of their regular care will be invited to participate. After receiving written and oral information and providing informed consent, participants will complete digital questionnaires via a secure electronic data capture system (REDCap).
The questionnaires assess experience and exposure to pleasant social touch, central sensitization (Central Sensitization Inventory, CSI), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, MAIA-2), and pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS). A newly developed questionnaire will be used to assess perception and exposure to social touch, including qualitative components.
Clinical data will be collected during routine physician visits and include pain diagnosis, pain distribution, symptom severity, comorbidities, and medication use. Questionnaire data and clinical data will be linked using participant ID numbers. Treating physicians will not have access to questionnaire responses to reduce the risk of bias.
Additional data may be obtained from the Swedish National Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (NRS), where applicable.
A total of 100 participants will be included. Based on previous registry data and similar studies, subgroup sizes are expected to be sufficient to allow comparisons between individuals with different dominant pain mechanisms (e.g., nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain).
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain, Persistent Pain
- Keywords
- Nociplastic pain, Neuropathic pain, Nociceptive pain, Pleasant touch, Central sensitization, Interoception, Social touch, Affective touch
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain, Nociplastic Pain, Neuralgia, Nociceptive Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Pain Patients | Individuals with chronic pain referred to a specialist pain clinic in Västra Götaland. Participants will complete questionnaires assessing pain, experience and exposure to pleasant touch, interoceptive awareness, and central sensitization. Clinical data will be collected as part of routine care. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perception of pleasant touch
Perception of pleasant touch assessed using a study-specific questionnaire measuring experience and exposure to social touch.
Measured: At baseline
Secondary outcomes (2)
Central sensitization
Central sensitization measured using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI).
Measured: At baseline
Interoceptive awareness
Interoceptive awareness assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2).
Measured: At baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Apr 2026
- Study start26 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Feb 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Feb 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Göteborg University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Västra Götalandsregionen
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07551687
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-08467-01
- Other IDs
- 2025
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: It is currently undecided whether individual participant data will be shared. Data sharing will be considered in accordance with ethical approvals, data protection regulations, and institutional policies.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Being Touched in Persistent Pain: Mapping the Association Between Pleasant Touch and Central Sensitization in Patients With Persistent Pain.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07551687
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025-08467-01
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain, Persistent Pain
- Keywords
- Nociplastic pain, Neuropathic pain, Nociceptive pain, Pleasant touch, Central sensitization, Interoception, Social touch, Affective touch
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Göteborg UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Västra Götalandsregionen
- Study start
- 26 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Apr 2026 (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 goal of this observational study is to learn how individuals with chronic pain experience pleasant touch and how often they are exposed to such touch in their daily lives. The study also aims to examine how these experiences relate to pain sensitivity and body awareness. The main questions it aims to answer are:
How is the perception of pleasant touch associated with central sensitization and interoceptive awareness in individuals with chronic pain?
Does the perception of pleasant touch differ between individuals with different dominant pain mechanisms (nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic)?
Participants referred to a specialist Pain Clinic in Västra Götaland as part of their regular care will be invited to take part. Those who consent will complete online questionnaires assessing pain, experience and exposure to touch, interoceptive awareness, and central sensitization. Clinical data such as pain diagnosis and medical history will also be collected.
Detailed description
This observational study aims to investigate how individuals with chronic pain experience pleasant touch and how these experiences relate to central sensitization, interoceptive awareness, and different pain mechanisms.
Participants referred to the Pain Clinic in Västra Götaland as part of their regular care will be invited to participate. After receiving written and oral information and providing informed consent, participants will complete digital questionnaires via a secure electronic data capture system (REDCap).
The questionnaires assess experience and exposure to pleasant social touch, central sensitization (Central Sensitization Inventory, CSI), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, MAIA-2), and pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS). A newly developed questionnaire will be used to assess perception and exposure to social touch, including qualitative components.
Clinical data will be collected during routine physician visits and include pain diagnosis, pain distribution, symptom severity, comorbidities, and medication use. Questionnaire data and clinical data will be linked using participant ID numbers. Treating physicians will not have access to questionnaire responses to reduce the risk of bias.
Additional data may be obtained from the Swedish National Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (NRS), where applicable.
A total of 100 participants will be included. Based on previous registry data and similar studies, subgroup sizes are expected to be sufficient to allow comparisons between individuals with different dominant pain mechanisms (e.g., nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain).
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Pain Patients | – | –Individuals with chronic pain referred to a specialist pain clinic in Västra Götaland. Participants will complete questionnaires assessing pain, experience and exposure to pleasant touch, interoceptive awareness, and central sensitization. Clinical data will be collected as part of routine care. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adults with persistent pain referred to Smärtteam Västra Götaland for clinical assessment and management.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adults aged 18 years and older
- Referred to and accepted for assessment at Pain Clinic (Smärtteam) Västra Götaland due to persistent pain (duration ≥ 3 months)
- Able to read and complete self-report questionnaires in Swedish
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Inability to read or complete self-report questionnaires in Swedish
- Need for interpreter support
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Perception of pleasant touch
Time frame: At baseline
Perception of pleasant touch assessed using a study-specific questionnaire measuring experience and exposure to social touch.
2 secondary outcomes
Central sensitization
Time frame: At baseline
Interoceptive awareness
Time frame: At baseline
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 27 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. It is currently undecided whether individual participant data will be shared. Data sharing will be considered in accordance with ethical approvals, data protection regulations, and institutional policies.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Chronic Pain and Persistent Pain, run by Göteborg University at 1 site in Sweden.
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 3 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Apr 2026. 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 Sweden. 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?
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 Line Löken, PhD (+46706722713, line.loken@gu.se), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Perception of pleasant touch (time frame: At baseline). 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 27 Apr 2026.