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The Role of Brain Dopamine in Chronic Pain
NCT05285683 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Chronic pain is associated with plasticity in the brain limbic system composed mainly of the amygdala, hippocampus, ventral striatum, and cingulate cortex (ACC) /medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These brain areas, especially the ventral striatum, receive dopaminergic input from the ventral-tegmental area (VTA). Although there is a significant literature now showing that limbic brain tracks chronic pain intensity and predicts the risk of transition from sub-acute to chronic pain, the role of dopaminergic input to the limbic brain and the change thereof which occurs in chronic pain, is still not clear. Given the role of dopamine in motivational control and the loss of motivation associated with chronic pain understanding how dopaminergic transmission is altered in the limbic brain of chronic pain patients is critical to the understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic pain. Therefore, the overall aim of this project is to use brain imaging to study how dopaminergic transmission through the oral administration of pro-dopaminergic medications carbidopa/levodopa (CD/LD) and methylphenidate will modulate the brain signature of chronic pain. Chronic pain subjects will be scanned at baseline (no drug administration) and three times after treatment with the two drugs or placebo. The protocol will follow a randomized double-blind approach.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DRUG Placebo
- DRUG Methylphenidate
- DRUG carbidopa-levodopa
Study Locations (1)
New York
- University of Rochester Medical Center — Rochester
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 10 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-01-31 |
| Est. Completion | 2026-01-22 |
| Phase | Phase 2 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT05285683
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT05285683 describes a study currently listed as recruiting. It is categorized as Phase 2, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 10 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Rochester, which has 437 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Chronic Pain appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 3 interventions — of which Placebo is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT05285683 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include New York. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT05285683 about?
NCT05285683 is a clinical study titled "The Role of Brain Dopamine in Chronic Pain". Chronic pain is associated with plasticity in the brain limbic system composed mainly of the amygdala, hippocampus, ventral striatum, and cingulate cortex (ACC) /medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These brain areas, especially the ventral striatum, receive dopaminergic input from the ventral-tegmental...
What is the current status of trial NCT05285683?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a Phase 2 study. The enrollment target is 10 participants. The study started on 2024-01-31. Estimated completion is 2026-01-22.
What conditions does trial NCT05285683 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Chronic Pain. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT05285683?
The interventions under investigation include: Placebo (DRUG), Methylphenidate (DRUG), carbidopa-levodopa (DRUG). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05285683?
This trial is sponsored by University of Rochester, which has 437 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT05285683 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across New York. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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