title: Randomized clinical trial of deep brain stimulation for poststroke pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The experience with deep brain stimulation (DBS) for pain is largely based on uncontrolled studies targeting the somatosensory pathways, with mixed results. We hypothesized that targeting limbic neural pathways would modulate the affective sphere of pain and alleviate suffering.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of DBS targeting the ventral striatum/anterior limb of the internal capsule (VS/ALIC) in 10 patients with poststroke pain syndrome. One month after bilateral DBS, patients were randomized to active DBS or sham for 3 months, followed by crossover for another 3-month period. The primary endpoint was a ≥50% improvement on the Pain Disability Index in 50% of patients with active DBS compared to sham. This 6-month blinded phase was followed by an 18-month open stimulation phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine participants completed randomization. Although this trial was negative for its primary and secondary endpoints, we did observe significant differences in multiple outcome measures related to the affective sphere of pain (eg, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Affective Pain Rating Index of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire). Fourteen serious adverse events were recorded and resolved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VS/ALIC DBS to modulate the affective sphere of pain represents a paradigm shift in chronic pain management. Although this exploratory study was negative for its primary endpoint, VS/ALIC DBS demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and statistically significant improvements on multiple outcome measures related to the affective sphere of pain. Therefore, we believe these results justify further work on neuromodulation therapies targeting the affective sphere of pain. Ann Neurol 2017;81:653-663.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.|Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
authors.forename: Scott F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lempka
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Kenneth B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Alexandria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wyant
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ozinga
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Ela B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Plow
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Mayur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pandya
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.|Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kubu
authors.affiliation: NeuroEthics Program, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.|Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Andre G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020772:Internal Capsule; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D066328:Ventral Striatum