fMRI Studies of Task Specificity in Focal Hand Dystonia

Completed

Conditions studied: Focal Dystonia

In brief

This study will examine how the brain makes involuntary spasms and contractions in patients with focal hand dystonia (FHD). Patients with dystonia have muscle spasms that cause uncontrolled twisting and repetitive movement or abnormal postures. In FHD, only the hand is involved. The study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI, see below) to study which areas of the brain are primarily affected in FHD and better understand how brain changes produce dystonia symptoms. Normal right-handed volunteers and patients with FHD who are 18-65 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical and neurological examinations. Women who can become pregnant have a urine pregnancy test. All participants undergo fMRI. This test uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. The subject lies on a table that is moved into the scanner (a metal cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. The procedure lasts about 90 minutes, during which time the patient is asked to lie still for 10-15 minutes at a time. During the procedure, subjects are asked to perform some tasks, including writing, tapping with their hand, and drawing in a zigzag motion. Each task is performed using the right hand, left hand and right foot.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00310414

Run by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

People needed

51

Starts

2006-03-30

Expected to finish

2012-03-13

Last updated by the study team

2017-07-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• Subjects with implanted devices such as pacemakers, medication pumps or defibrillators, metal in the cranium except mouth, intracardiac lines, history of shrapnel injury or any other condition/device that may be contraindicated or prevent the acquisition of MRI
• Subjects with any finding on the MRI safety questionnaire which prevents them from safely undergoing an MRI scan
• Subjects who are pregnant.
• Subjects with claustrophobia or other restrictions which prevent them from undergoing a scan in a confined space for up to 60 minutes
• Subjects with any visual, motor, or hearing difficulties
• Subjects with severe focal hand dystonia i.e., subjects who experience dystonic spasms in tasks other than/in addition to writing
• Subjects with mirror dystonia
• Subjects without the capacity to give consent
• Subjects with any history of a severe medical condition, such as cardiovascular disease, which will prevent them from lying flat for up to 60 minutes.
• Subjects with any history of brain tumor, stroke, head trauma or vascular malformation as obtained by history or from imaging studies.
• Subjects who have had recent (within 3 months) Botulinum Toxin (Botox) injections.
• Subjects who are on anti-parkinsonian drugs

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.