Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) With Desipramine
Status:
Active, not recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience abdominal pain as a result of
pain signals in the bowel and how these signals are processed in the brain. Studies using
brain imaging (pictures) have shown that IBS patients with more pain diagnoses (i.e.
fibromyalgia, migraines, etc.) have greater activity in the regions of the brain responsible
for the emotional and thought processing of pain signals. This could possibly make bowel
sensations and bowel difficulties feel abnormal or more noticeable, in turn causing more
severe IBS symptoms. The purpose of this protocol is to explore the role of pain diagnoses
and their affect on brain activity in IBS patients. The investigators will also examine the
use of a medication, desipramine, which is known to affect these brain regions, in IBS
patients.