Treatment of Chronic Itching through Targeted Influence on Sensory Processing in the Brain
Descrizione riassuntiva dello studio
Chronic itching is one of the most common symptoms in dermatological patients. The impact on quality of life can be significant. The causes of itching vary and range from skin and nerve diseases to liver and kidney disorders. The brain is always involved in sensory processing. Treating itching is often challenging. In psychotherapeutic treatments using 'Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing' (EMDR) for patients with accompanying skin diseases and chronic itching, we observed an improvement in itching complaints. There are additional case reports that also describe the effectiveness of EMDR for itching. However, potential correlations have not yet been sufficiently researched, which is why we are pursuing this study. In this study, we first investigate whether the intervention method EMDR is feasible for chronic itching in an interdisciplinary setting of psychosomatics and dermatology and whether it is accepted by the affected individuals. This can provide initial important insights into effectiveness and good tolerability. If the effectiveness of EMDR for itching is scientifically examined and proven, it can be specifically used against chronic itching.
(BASEC)
Intervento studiato
The intervention method EMDR is currently used for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders. EMDR stands for 'Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing': This method influences sensory processing through guided eye movements (similar to REM sleep) or alternative bilateral stimulation of both hemispheres of the brain. Due to its good effectiveness and tolerability, EMDR has been continuously expanding its application area in Europe and the USA in recent years.
In our study, participants will be grouped in consultation with our study team. This is important to obtain reliable results from the study. There are two groups in our study: an intervention group (Group 1) and a comparison group (Group 2). Both groups receive the treatment that is customary for the given diagnosis according to current knowledge. The intervention group additionally receives EMDR therapy.
The study is not a blinded study. Not blinded means that everyone involved in the implementation knows which group the participants have been assigned to. The participants themselves also know which group they are in.
(BASEC)
Malattie studiate
chronic itching
(BASEC)
diagnosed chronic itching Age between 18-75 years Itching intensity of at least 4 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale within the last 7 days (BASEC)
Criteri di esclusione
Patients with phototherapy Inability to follow the study process, e.g., due to language problems or severe mental illnesses Acute outbreak of an autoimmune disease such as Crohn's disease (BASEC)
Luogo dello studio
Basilea
(BASEC)
Sponsor
Universitätsspital Basel
(BASEC)
Contatto per ulteriori informazioni sullo studio
Persona di contatto in Svizzera
Dr. med. Chrysovalandis Schwale
+41 61 328 3121
chrysovalandis.schwale@clutterusb.chUniversitätsspital Basel
(BASEC)
Informazioni generali
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland,
+41 61 265 52 94;+41 61 265 52 94
chrysovalandis.schwale@clutterusb.ch(ICTRP)
Informazioni scientifiche
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland,
+41 61 265 52 94;+41 61 265 52 94
chrysovalandis.schwale@clutterusb.ch(ICTRP)
Nome del comitato etico approvante (per studi multicentrici solo il comitato principale)
Commissione d'etica svizzera nord-ovest/centrale EKNZ
(BASEC)
Data di approvazione del comitato etico
28.05.2025
(BASEC)
ID di studio ICTRP
NCT06771375 (ICTRP)
Titolo ufficiale (approvato dal comitato etico)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to treat chronic pruritus in a multidisciplinary tertiary care setting– a feasibility study (BASEC)
Titolo accademico
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to Treat Chronic Pruritus in a Multidisciplinary Tertiary Care Setting- a Feasibility Study (ICTRP)
Titolo pubblico
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to Treat Chronic Pruritus (ICTRP)
Malattie studiate
Chronic Pruritus (ICTRP)
Intervento studiato
Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (ICTRP)
Tipo di studio
Interventional (ICTRP)
Disegno dello studio
Allocation: Non-Randomized. Intervention model: Parallel Assignment. Primary purpose: Treatment. Masking: None (Open Label). (ICTRP)
Criteri di inclusione/esclusione
Gender: All
Maximum age: 75 Years
Minimum age: 18 Years
Inclusion Criteria:
- Provided written informed consent
- Age 18 to 75 years
- Skindex-29 (questionnaire) symptoms subscale =42
- Confirmed diagnosis CP
- Itch intensity of min. = 4 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale within the last 7 days
- Stable course of treatment in the two weeks prior to the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems,
severe psychiatric disorders such as delusional disorder, suicidality or dementia.
- Patients on phototherapy
- Acute attacks of an autoimmune disease such as Crohn's disease
- Serious cardiac disease (ICTRP)
non disponibile
Endpoint primari e secondari
Adherence (%) (ICTRP)
non disponibile
Data di registrazione
non disponibile
Inclusione del primo partecipante
non disponibile
Sponsor secondari
non disponibile
Contatti aggiuntivi
Chrysovalandis Schwale, Dr.;Chrysovalandis Schwale, Dr.;Chrysovalandis Schwale, Dr. med., chrysovalandis.schwale@usb.ch, +41 61 265 52 94;+41 61 265 52 94, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland, (ICTRP)
ID secondari
2024-02597, th24schaefert (ICTRP)
Risultati-Dati individuali dei partecipanti
non disponibile
Ulteriori informazioni sullo studio
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06771375 (ICTRP)
Risultati dello studio
Riepilogo dei risultati
non disponibile
Link ai risultati nel registro primario
non disponibile