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NCT Number: NCT07551687

Pleasant Touch Perception in 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?

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Pain Nervous System Diseases Neuralgia Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Nociceptive Pain Nociplastic Pain Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Persistent Pain Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Smärtteam Västra Götaland

Gothenburg, Sweden

About this study

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).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability to read or complete self-report questionnaires in Swedish
  • Need for interpreter support

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. 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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Central sensitization

    Time frame: At baseline

    Central sensitization measured using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI).

  2. Interoceptive awareness

    Time frame: At baseline

    Interoceptive awareness assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Line Löken, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+46706722713

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Göteborg University

Other

Collaborators

  • Västra Götalandsregionen

Registry information

Official study title

Being Touched in Persistent Pain: Mapping the Association Between Pleasant Touch and Central Sensitization in Patients With Persistent Pain.

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2030
First posted
Apr 27, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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