Clinical Research Directory

Investigation of the Effects of Sleep Fragmentation on Itch and Pain Sensitivity

In This experiment, the investigators would like to test following hypotheses regarding the influence of sleep fragmentation on itch: * To investigate similarity and differences between itch and pain by comparing the effect of sleep deprivation in them. * To evaluate the inflammatory state induced by sleep fragmentation via the analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from blood samples. * To correlate the anxiety and depression scores (evaluated through questionnaires) with itch and pain sensitivity and evaluate how they are affected by sleep fragmentation.

Itch Sensation Induced by Multiple Applications of Pruritogens (temporal Summation)

In This experiment, the investigators would like to design a new itch model based on the temporal summation of pruritic stimuli. The hypothesis behind this study (temporal summation) is that two overlapped applications of pruritogens will result in a higher itch sensation compared with a single application.

Investigate the Relationship Between Catastrophizing and the Perception of Itch Intensity in Healthy Individuals

This project aims to investigate the relationship between different dimensions of catastrophizing (rumination, magnification, and helplessness) as well as some specific personality traits related to catastrophizing tendencies like anxiety sensitivity and fear sensitivity in the modulation of itch and pain intensities in an experimental setting.

Itch Sensation Induced by Simultaneous Application of Pruritogens (Spatial Summation)

In This experiment, the investigators would like to design a new itch model based on the spatial summation of pruritic stimuli. The hypothesis behind this study (spatial summation) is that two simultaneous applications of pruritogens will result in higher itch sensation compared with a single application of pruritogen.

Investigation of the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Itch and Pain Sensitivity

In This experiment, the investigators would like to test following hypotheses regarding the influence of sleep deprivation on itch: * To investigate similarity and differences between itch and pain by comparing the effect of sleep deprivation in them. * To evaluate the inflammatory state induced by sleep fragmentation via the analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from blood samples. * To correlate the anxiety and depression scores (evaluated through questionnaires) with itch and pain sensitivity and evaluate how they are affected by sleep. In This experiment, the investigators would like to test following hypotheses regarding the influence of sleep fragmentation on itch: * To investigate similarity and differences between itch and pain by comparing the effect of sleep deprivation in them. * To evaluate the inflammatory state induced by sleep fragmentation via the analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from blood samples. * To correlate the anxiety and depression scores (evaluated through questionnaires) with itch and pain sensitivity and evaluate how they are affected by sleep deprivation.