Researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, are seeking individuals with a unilateral amputation of either a leg or an arm to participate in a six-month research study investigating the effectiveness of mirror therapy, a nonstandard treatment for the condition.
Participants must be 18-65 years old and have phantom-limb pain from amputation of all or part of an arm or leg on one side of the body only. Participants must meet other criteria as well, which the university has not yet published.
Beth Darnall, PhD, the study’s principal investigator, stated in a news release, “We will show [participants] how to do mirror therapy at home and ask you to use it for a short time every day. We will send you questionnaires to fill out and mail back four times over the six-month period. You may continue your usual medications and treatments during the study. There will be no cost to you for participating in this study. If you qualify, you will receive up to $90 for your participation. You may or may not benefit from being in this study.”
For more information, contact Beth Darnall, PhD; Principal Investigator; OHSU Dept. of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine; 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd.; Portland, Oregon 97239; 503.494.4351; IRB #4925; e-mail: