Exploring how catastrophizing affects itch perception in healthy individuals
Official title: Investigation of the Neurophysiological and Psychological Aspects of Itch
Run by Aalborg University · NCT06340438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing how different ways of thinking about pain and discomfort, like feeling helpless or worrying too much, affect how healthy people experience itchiness.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 46 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Aalborg University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aalborg, Denmark) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 27, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2025 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | November 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06340438 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are healthy men and women aged 18-60 who can speak and understand English.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a history of neurological, immunological, or mental health disorders, as well as those with skin diseases, will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project investigates the relationship between different dimensions of catastrophizing, such as rumination and helplessness, and their impact on itch and pain intensity in healthy individuals. The study aims to understand how cognitive and emotional factors, along with personality traits like anxiety sensitivity, influence the perception of itch. By using interventions like histamine and cowhage, researchers will assess how these factors modulate itch responses in a controlled experimental setting. The findings could provide insights into the psychological aspects of chronic itch and pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved understanding and management of chronic itch, potentially enhancing quality of life for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the relationship between catastrophizing and pain is well-documented, this specific investigation into itch perception is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy men and women * 18-60 years * Speak and understand English Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or lactation * Drug addiction defined as any use of cannabis, opioids, or other addictive drugs * Previous or current history of neurological (e.g. neuropathy), immunological (e.g. asthma, immune deficiencies, arthritis), musculoskeletal (e.g. muscular pain in the upper extremities,), cardiac disorder, or mental illnesses that may affect the results * Lack of ability to cooperate * Current use of medications that may affect the trial such as antihistamines, antipsychotics, and pain killers, as well as systemic or topical steroids * Skin diseases (e.g. atopic dermatitis, pruritus nodularis, eczema, psoriasis) * Moles, scars, or tattoos in the area to be treated or tested. * Consumption of alcohol or painkillers 24 hours before the study days and between these * Acute or chronic pain * Participation in other trials within one week of study entry (four weeks in the case of pharmaceutical trials)
Where it's running
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Aalborg University
Aalborg, Denmark, Denmark Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Silvia Lo Vecchio, PhD
- Email: slv@hst.aau.dk
- Phone: +4521397785
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Itch and Pain Sensitivity
This study tests how not getting enough sleep affects how much people feel itchiness and pain, and looks at how anxiety and depression might play a role in that.
-
How histamine affects blood flow to the lungs after exercise.
This study tests whether blocking histamine changes blood flow and pressures in the lungs after exercise in healthy young adults.
-
Investigating how histamine affects muscle growth after resistance training
This study is testing whether blocking histamine can help people build more muscle after ten weeks of resistance training.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.