NCT07255092

Mechanisms Underlying the Nocibo Effect of Contagious Itch. in Both Histaminergic and Nonhistaminergic Itch

Pain and Itch Neuromodulation: Effects of Offset Analgesia, Placebo, and Nocebo and Topographical Distribution of Itch and Pain Receptors

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Aalborg University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The study consists of one experimental session of approximately 1½ hours. The participant will fill in a series of questionnaires about how you perceive itch and pain, and about some traits of your personality, such as depression, anxiety and stress. Afterwards, three areas will be selected on each forearm of the subjects. Two areas will be treated with histamine, two with cowhage, and two with vehicle. One application of each substance will be conducted including the contagious itch component. During the 10 minutes of the application of the pruritogens, itch and pain will be continuously monitored using a VAS scale.

Conditions

• ITCH

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Histamine	To deliver histamine, standard allergy skin prick test (SPT) lancets are applied
OTHER	Cowhage (Mucuna Pruriens)	The spicules will be manually inserted. Approximately 30-35 spicules are gently rubbed into a 1 cm diameter skin area on the forearm/face
OTHER	Placebo	To deliver steril water, standard allergy skin prick test (SPT) lancets are applied

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2028-12-31
• First posted: 2025-11-28
• Last updated: 2025-12-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark